Stephen Davis Speaking Event Cancelled at UC Davis after Female Student was Assaulted by Protestors
A female TPUSA chapter member at the University of California, Davis was assaulted following violent protests outside an event for commentator Stephen Davis. Video from the event captures the student gasping for air, rubbing her eyes, and screaming after being maced by a protestor.
“Once again, outside ‘protestors’ with zero connection to our organization or students used violence to disrupt our campus free speech event. Reports from our field team indicate that the conflict began when Antifa showed up and provoked attendees entering the venue. As an official school affiliated club, TPUSA regularly hosts outside speakers, working in advance with administrators and campus police to ensure a safe environment for everyone involved.
Sadly, on this occasion, the bad guys won and rather than risk any further escalation of violence, our chapter leadership decided to cancel the event when it became apparent campus PD was unable to disperse the violent agitators outside while also keeping our students safe inside. This is a great loss for free speech, our speaker Stephen Davis, and for the students at UC Davis. TPUSA condemns all violence and refuses to be cowed by those who use threats and intimidation to stop conservatives on campus.”
TPUSA statement to The Post Millennial regarding the event
The chapter was informed that UC Davis police would be present at the event and would intervene if protests turned violent. However, campus law enforcement failed to intervene and did not make any arrests. When it was apparent that protests presented a threat to the safety of students and attendees, TPUSA and the university agreed that the event could not move forward.
The university issued the following statement concerning the events that transpired:
“The health and the well-being of our community is our priority. In preparing for tonight’s speaker and activities, we worked with the students to create a secure environment, including a safety plan, where freedom of speech could be exercised, including for those wishing to protest the speaker. UC Davis Student Affairs staff attended the event to provide education about student expression and to encourage respectful and productive dialogue.”
UC Davis statement on TPUSA event cancellation
The university’s statement failed to acknowledge that UC Davis police did not intervene or attempt to de-escalate the violence unfolding on behalf of protestors. The university also failed to mention the presence and hostility of Antifa protestors who attempted to smash open the windows using barricades and assaulted students in attendance of the event.
Stephen Davis was scheduled to hold an event on the campus where he planned to discuss the front-lines of the current political landscape in our country. Instead of hearing about these topics from him however, students saw the chaos and deep political divide firsthand. Prior to his speaking engagement, students on campus were allegedly tearing down fliers for the event and replacing them with anti-TPUSA flyers which accused our organization of engaging in “racist, homophobic, transphobic, and anti-immigration activities.”
Our hearts go out to the student who was so viciously attacked, and we are truly saddened by the state of college campuses across the country. Speech is violence when it is an opposing ideology, but actual violence committed on behalf of radical leftists is time and time again permitted by institutions that used to value open dialogue.
