Disruption at UCLA Event as Activists Interfere with DHS Lawyer’s Speech
A tumultuous scenario occurred in Los Angeles on Tuesday night when far-left activists and students disrupted a speech by a Department of Homeland Security attorney at a conservative gathering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
The incident took place during a lecture organized by the UCLA chapter of the Federalist Society. Here, DHS General Counsel James Percival was addressing law students. Outside, over 150 protesters assembled, voicing their disdain for the Trump administration with chants like “No to ICE, No to the KKK, No to Fascist USA.”
Inside, the atmosphere was charged. Students booed Percival during his address, waving inappropriate banners, one of which simply stated, “Fuck you loser.” They made various noises on their phones and resorted to yelling terms like “Nazi” intermittently to drown out his speech.
The chaos peaked during a question and answer session, which many of the disruptors opted to leave prematurely in protest.
Matthew Weinberg, president of the UCLA FedSoc chapter and an event organizer, described the scene to FOX News Digital: “James Percival tried to engage in a genuine academic discussion, yet faced personal attacks, constant interruptions, and systematic efforts to prevent him from speaking.” He added that this kind of restriction on dialogue is alarming, especially for conservative law students looking to invite speakers.
Prior to the event, left-leaning campus organizations circulated threatening posts and online petitions. One of these groups, By Any Means Necessary (BAMN), disseminated materials promoting a “militant new civil rights and immigrant rights movement,” urging students to protest outside the law school. Their messaging framed the event as a home for “racist ethnic cleansing” led by representatives from the Trump Administration.
The UCLE Latin Law Student Association also expressed their concerns, stating that many students have been negatively impacted by ICE’s actions targeting individuals perceived to be undocumented. Their leaders emphasized that hosting Percival completely undermined the safety of undocumented students and trivialized the lasting harm caused by such policies.
Videos of the disruption gained significant traction on social media, drawing the attention of senior Justice Department officials. Harmeet Dhillon, the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, responded to the incident, remarking that it contributed to an ongoing issue in universities regarding the treatment of conservative speakers. She reflected on her own experiences at similar events where security effectively managed interruptions.
Others, like Ilya Shapiro from the Manhattan Institute, stressed the need for discipline against such disruptive behavior, predicting that without consequences, instances like this would become increasingly common.
Meanwhile, Carrie Severino, president of the Justice Network, pointed out the irony in universities proclaiming their commitment to diverse viewpoints while failing to extend that to conservative narratives. She pondered how students could truly advocate for the law and judicial independence under such circumstances.
The incident illustrates a troubling trend in which far-left students and activists persistently disrupt conservative events on college campuses. According to FIRE’s 2026 College Free Speech Survey, a staggering 91% of students report self-censoring in discussions, indicating a chilling effect on open dialogue regarding contentious topics.
