The school's Turning Point chapter organized the event.
Primarily dressed in black, the protesters clashed with law enforcement officers and other attendees. They threw eggs, smashed windows, used pepper spray, and blocked access to the University Credit Union Center where the event was being held. The protesters' actions resulted in at least two arrests.
Following the incident, Twitter CEO Elon Musk commented on social media that the protest was not peaceful. Musk's tweet garnered responses from several people who agreed with him and made comparisons to the January 6 Capitol protest.
March 15, 2023
UC Davis released a statement after the event, admitting that minor incidents occurred during the protest. The statement revealed that one police officer was injured when he was jumped on from behind and pushed to the ground. Two individuals were arrested and charged with painting graffiti on an exterior wall of the University Credit Union Center, where the event was taking place.
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Protesters near the northeast entrance broke 10 glass window panes in the doors but did not gain access to the building and eventually left the area. There were no arrests related to the breaking of the glass.
The protesters held signs supporting trans and queer people and used umbrellas to cover their identities. Videos and photos of the protest show that other protesters threw eggs and other objects. UC Davis reported some reports of using pepper spray, but no major physical injuries were reported.
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In addition to blocking access to the event, protesters physically obstructed a bike path and made it difficult for others to enter the area. One of the individuals arrested was not affiliated with UC Davis.
Kirk has been the subject of criticism at UC Davis and around California, resulting in a previous event at the school being shut down. The Sacramento Bee published an op-ed before the event, calling for its cancellation and alleging that Kirk had called for the "lynching" of trans people. The op-ed also referred to Kirk as a "fascist speaker." Kirk denied the allegations and threatened to sue the outlet, which later deleted the op-ed and reposted it with different wording, instead referring to Kirk as a "far-right" leader.
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During the event, Kirk addressed the protesters outside and praised security and his supporters for defying their attempts to shut down the event. He also condemned the protesters for their violent behavior and stated that their actions were an attempt to shut down the free exchange of ideas.
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UC Davis, which describes itself as a place for learning, growth, and community, reiterated its commitment to free speech, even when that speech may be hateful, offensive, or abusive. The school remains dedicated to fostering an inclusive and respectful campus environment for people of all backgrounds. "I don't know if you saw but they broke some windows, the terrorists did outside, people had things thrown at them," Kirk said. "We're not going to put up with force of trying to shut down people you don't like."
The event was limited to 1,000 students, and only around 500 attended.
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