The campus of the University of California at Davis (UC Davis) was the scene of an episode of leftist censorship on Tuesday. Members of the Antifa movement mobilized on the Davis, Calif. campus to prevent a student-organized speaking event from being held. The guest speaker was Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA).
Antifa and LGBTQ+ activists, motivated by university president Gary May, gathered around the lecture hall. They protested and prevented the attendees from entering the venue. Violent clashes took place, which led to the intervention of security and the University of California Police Department.
🚨BREAKING: Antifa is attempting to overrun the venue hosting Charlie Kirk at UC Davis. They have begun violently smashing through the windows in an attempt to shut down the voice of those they oppose pic.twitter.com/2EXQprQAZJ
— Turning Point USA (@TPUSA) March 15, 2023
In the videos circulating on social media, Antifa and LGBTQ+ activists are seen carrying an array of blunt objects. As police and security personnel took refuge in the conference hall, the assailants went so far as to break the glass doors of the venue. According to a UC Davis press release, at least two rioters were arrested. Per the same statement, about 100 people gathered to protest the event.
Mayhem at UC Davis where Charlie Kirk is speaking… cops can’t tell who is who. pic.twitter.com/jsDRm8KgcJ
— Jeremy Lee Quinn (@jeremyreporter) March 15, 2023
Encouragement from university president
UC Davis President Gary May himself encouraged activists to prevent the talk from being held. May posted a video hours earlier charging Charlie Kirk and TPUSA, deeming them as dangerous to the campus. In his video, May accused Kirk of being a "proponent of misinformation and hate" and "violence against transgender individuals." May's words were interpreted by protesters as explicit endorsement of violence.
UC Davis- Police grab the umbrella and signs of the ANTIFA members as they advance forward toward the building where TPUSA is holding their event pic.twitter.com/MfHyX5S9Mm
— Savanah Hernandez (@sav_says_) March 15, 2023
Kirk criticized the position taken by May: "he’s supposed to remain neutral. This doesn’t sound neutral." Kirk further suggested that May's actions "could be interpreted in a courtroom as trying to use power; trying to use influence to restrict somebody’s First Amendment rights." On Twitter, Kirk announced that he will sue May for his words.
Speaking to Breitbart, the TPUSA founder continued to lash out at May : "There is a reason we need 100+ police officers at our event tonight and it’s not because of TPUSA or me, it’s because there is an army of ANTIFA domestic terrorists in his community that threaten, bully and assault conservatives." Kirk continued: "We will be peaceful like we always are and we remain grateful to local law enforcement for helping keep everyone safe."
Despite the attempts from leftists to prevent the event, the talk was ultimately able to take place after the police intervened on campus.
