Elon Musk puts UC Davis in spotlight as protesters confront right-wing speaker
The UC Davis Police Department is investigating a clash Thursday between a conservative organization and protesters that saw tempers flare briefly into violence and drew millions of video views on social media within hours.
Brandon Tatum, a contributor with nonprofit Turning Point USA, was scheduled to speak Thursday in UC Davis’ Memorial Union Quad. The event was billed as a conversation to challenge “mainstream narratives and digging into the issues that shape our world,” according to the UC Davis chapter of Turning Point USA, a conservative organization with thousands of members across school campuses.
Before Tatum began his talk, a group of about 30 demonstrators arrived to the quad and confronted members of Turning Point USA, according to a statement from UC Davis about the clash. Videos of the confrontation posted on social media platform X caught the attention of high-profile conservative leaders such as Turning Point founder and CEO Charlie Kirk and Elon Musk, the world’s richest man.
“The left is the party of violence & hate,” Musk wrote, spotlighting the protest for his more than 200 million followers on X, which he owns. As of 7 p.m. Thursday, Musk’s post had more than 10 million views on X.
The group of protesters — some wearing all black and with their faces shrouded in masks, and several holding opened umbrellas — walked toward a Turning Point USA booth about one hour before the event’s scheduled 1 p.m start time, according to the videos and a university statement.
The group then pulled down Turning Point USA’s tent and shoved people helping the nonprofit, according to the videos and a statement from UC Davis. A few minutes after the scuffle, the individuals returned and attempted to retake the tent, the university said.
Campus police in Thursday’s statement said a “demonstrator struck one observer who approached the group with a camera phone.”
Bill Kisliuk, a spokesperson for UC Davis, wrote in a statement that the university makes every effort to ensure campus safety. Campus departments had coordinated with Turning Point USA to create a safety plan for the event, he wrote.
“The campus is reviewing its preparations for this event,” he said.
No arrests have been made. UC Davis police took one report of an assault, Kisliuk said, and police are continuing to investigate.
Tatum’s talk happened after the confrontation and was completed “without further incident,” the university said.
Kirk, who weighed in on social media while sharing Turning Point USA’s post on X, said the group of people destroyed camera gear, event signage and assaulted Turning Point staff.
“While our people were under attack, police stood aside and did nothing,” Kirk wrote on X. “Our team is understandably shaken up, but they assure me they will not back down.”
Kirk, in his social media post that had been seen 8.5 million times by early Thursday evening, suggested the Trump administration investigate federal dollars flowing to the university if campus officials do not show they are willing to “protect the constitutional right to free speech and free assembly on a public campus.”
The president often takes its cues from influential conservative commentators — Trump fired members of the National Security Council after meeting with far-right activist Laura Loomer, the New York Times and other news outlets reported Thursday.
Kisliuk said the university condemns all forms of violence.
“The university affirms and supports the right of our students to invite speakers to our campus, to express their views, and to peacefully protest speakers whose views they find upsetting or offensive,” the statement continued. “Those engaged in speech activity must comply with federal and state laws and campus policies protecting lawful access to university programs and facilities.”
This story was originally published April 3, 2025 at 6:57 PM.
