Golden State Today

Before a student event at UC Davis, individuals protested against the scheduled guest speaker. The incident involved confrontations with members of a student organization. According to the UC Davis Police Department, there was one report of an assault, but no medical aid was requested. Despite the disruptions, the guest speaker's event proceeded as planned and concluded without further incidents.

The event was organized by Turning Point USA at UC Davis, a registered student organization. Their invited speaker, Brandon Tatum, was set to speak at 1 p.m. Around an hour before his address, about 30 demonstrators approached a tent staffed by event supporters. An observer with a camera phone was struck by one demonstrator, prompting others to pull down the tent and engage in shoving with those present.

The protestors initially left the area but returned minutes later, attempting once more to remove the tent. UC Davis police are investigating the situation, though no arrests have been made.

Efforts to ensure campus event safety were coordinated by Student Affairs, Turning Point USA at UC Davis, Safety Services, and other campus departments. The campus is reviewing its event preparations to enhance safety measures.

UC Davis condemns all acts of violence and supports students’ rights to invite speakers, express views, and peacefully protest speakers whose views may be deemed offensive. The university emphasizes that all speech activities must adhere to federal and state laws, as well as campus policies that protect lawful access to university programs and facilities.