A physical altercation at Washington, DC’s Union Station recently gained attention after conservative activist Cam Higby Pepper was involved. In a video, it appears that he made a confrontational move with a Maga hat and emphasized his intent to tackle political hostility through what he calls his “fearless tour.”
Higby claims his goal is to highlight violence from the left and encourage peaceful political discussions. He had just wrapped up a discussion event at the University of Maryland before heading to Union Station.
In a phone interview, Higby described how his group was engaged in conversation with some nearby protesters when the altercation erupted. “At one point, she fell to her knees… started yelling at us and touching us,” he recounted. “I told her to back off and stop touching me. Then she charged at me.”
Video evidence shows a woman shoving Higby back into a chair and hitting him before he ended up in some bushes. Higby noted that it was hard to tell if she had a weapon since her hands were mostly concealed in her pockets during the confrontation.
After some pepper spray was used, Higby said the woman moved to a light post where other protesters assisted her by flushing her eyes out and calling for police help.
No arrests seemed to happen at first. But once U.S. park police arrived, Higby observed that the woman became aggressive and resisted arrest. “At this point, she was struggling with the police while her father yelled, ‘Why did you spray my daughter?’ She was fighting back against the officers. I felt responsible for the spray,” he elaborated. Four federal officers eventually subdued her and placed her into a police car.
According to a police report, Higby and his associates were categorized as victims, and it’s anticipated that the woman will face federal charges.
U.S. Parks Police did not confirm her identity or the specifics of any accusations when reached for comment.
This incident follows another attack on Higby in June during an anti-ICE rally in Seattle, where he was reportedly assaulted by three men who physically assaulted him before he defended himself.
Higby shared that he had suffered concussions, dizziness, and nausea as a result, needing emergency care. “I’ve always been cautious with defense sprays,” he noted. “I feel like using it was a measured response to keep from being harmed.”
On campus, Higby and his group are known for setting up discussion tables reminiscent of Kirk’s approach. Although some critics claim their messaging provokes intense reactions, Higby maintained that the recent incident at Union Station unfolded without any clear identifiers beyond the Maga hat they were wearing.
“We want to spark interest in political discussions. However, we don’t welcome physical interaction, and that’s where the issue lies,” he stated. “I think my views are pretty reasonable. If someone can’t control their impulses enough to avoid violence, that’s on them, not me.”
