A recent incident in Washington has drawn attention, particularly from conservative activist Cam Higby Pepper. He claimed that this situation underscores his cause after a woman sprayed him with something during a dispute. Higby’s goal? To encourage open discussion through what he calls his “fearless tour.”
After hosting a discussion at the University of Maryland, Higby stopped at Union Station, where he found himself interacting with some nearby protesters. In a phone interview, he recounted how the atmosphere escalated. “We were just sitting and chatting when this woman came over and it turned into a scuffle,” he said.
During the altercation, Higby recalled that the woman surprisingly dropped to her knees, yelling and reaching out to him. “I told her to step back,” he explained, “and then she charged at me.” Footage seemingly confirms this, showing her pushing him back into a chair, leading to him falling into some bushes.
Interestingly, Higby noted he couldn’t tell if she had a weapon, since her hands were in her pockets for much of the encounter. Once the pepper spray was discharged, she moved to a light pole where other protesters aided her while they called for police support.
Initially, it seemed there would be no arrests made. However, when U.S. parking police finally arrived, Higby mentioned that the woman became increasingly combative and resisted being arrested. “Her father was yelling at us, saying, ‘Why did you spray my daughter?’ as she fought against the federal officers,” he described. Four officers eventually subdued her and placed her in a patrol car.
According to a police report, Higby and those with him were recognized as victims, and the woman is likely facing federal charges. US Parks Police did not immediately respond to inquiries about her identity or the allegations.
Higby’s past experiences with violence were not limited to this incident. He detailed an earlier attack in June during an anti-ICE rally in Seattle, where he faced multiple aggressors. He sustained significant injuries that required emergency treatment at the time.
Despite his harrowing experiences, Higby maintains that he’s committed to promoting dialogue on campuses. His approach resembles a style reminiscent of Charlie Kirk, and he’s been actively setting up discussion tables aimed at fostering debate. Critics have suggested that this approach could provoke strong reactions, but Higby insists their latest incident was unexpected since they weren’t visibly provoking anyone at that moment.
Higby wants people to engage in political discussions, although he draws the line at physical confrontation. “If you can’t control your impulses to the extent that you resort to violence, that’s on you, not me,” he concluded.
