UC Davis to review violence at protest against right-wing group, chancellor says
UC Davis officials launched an independent review of a violent clash between a conservative organization and a group of counterprotestors that broke out on campus this week and seen tens of millions of times on social media, according to a university statement issued Friday.
The UC Davis chapter of Turning Point USA, a conservative nonprofit with thousands of members across the nation, invited a speaker Thursday for a 1 p.m. talk. Before right-wing commentator Brandon Tatum began his remarks at UC Davis’ Memorial Union Quad, a group of about 30 demonstrators confronted Turning Point USA members. The group of individuals — many of whom had their faces concealed behind masks — pulled down a tent of Turning Point USA and the shoving began, according to a statement by the university and videos of the scuffle posted on social media.
UC Davis Chancellor Gary May said in a Friday statement that it remains unclear if the “masked perpetrators were outside agitators or individuals affiliated with the university.” He condemned the violence and said Turning Point USA members were peacefully expressing their views.
“Regardless of their affiliation, all steps will be taken to hold those who were responsible accountable for their actions,” May said.
If UC Davis students or employees were involved in the attack, May said, they will face disciplinary action outside of any criminal inquiries.
UC Davis said Thursday no arrests had been made, and that the incident is under investigation. A university spokesperson in a statement also condemned the violence and said students have the right to invite speakers to express their views as well as to peacefully protest.
Campus police did document one report of assault as of late Thursday, the university said in a statement.
Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig in a separate statement called the clash “outrageous and clearly criminal.” He added his office is committed to working with state and federal law enforcement to investigate the violence.
“There are clear indications from the evidence, including video footage of the crime, that this was a coordinated effort, which makes it a felony under California law,” Reisig said.
The incident caught the attention of Turning Point USA CEO and founder Charlie Kirk and the world’s richest man on Elon Musk. Both posted videos about the incident to their millions of followers, where they were seen roughly 50 million views on social media website X, according to the platform’s view counter.
People with information about the incident were asked to contact the UC Davis Police Department at 530-752-1727.
