Protesters Fail to Make an Impact at SFSU Event

During a recent event at San Francisco State University, conservative figures Riley Gaines and Charlie Kirk attracted a crowd of about 500 people. This gathering took place at the Mashouf Wellness Center, where attendees came to hear from both speakers.

For Gaines, her return to SFSU was widely anticipated, especially given the previous hostility from pro-Palestine and pro-transgender protesters. Reflecting on her past experience, in 2023, she had to be sheltered in a police room on campus due to intense protests that lasted for hours. The atmosphere was so chaotic that some were even demanding money for her release.

On her latest visit, she encountered a protester chanting “Free Palestine” along with various remarks about transgender rights. While around 200 protesters were reportedly on site, from my perspective, their presence felt less significant—almost amusingly underwhelming.

There’s plenty of footage from the protests available to watch online. It’s time for demonstrators to reconsider their strategies after such a lackluster display. Good intentions don’t always translate into effective actions.