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Brawl between Antifa and Proud Boys prompts UC Davis to cancel ‘MAGA hulk’ speaking engagement

October 27, 2022 | | Print Article

Once again, mob rule has silenced free speech at a prestigious university in America, as Antifa reportedly gathered in protest at the University of California, Davis, ahead of a scheduled Turning Point USA event that featured speaker Stephen Davis, aka, the “MAGA Hulk.”

Things got ugly on Tuesday evening when Antifa and folks wearing “Proud Boys” apparel joined roughly 100 protestors and counter-protestors faced off near the venue, according to university officials.

“On Tuesday evening (Oct. 25), an event organized by a registered student organization affiliate, Turning Point USA at UC Davis, featuring Stephen Davis, was canceled before the speaker began his remarks,” UC Davis said in an issued statement. “Outside the venue, about 100 protesters and counterprotesters — including some who, according to reports, wore apparel labeled Proud Boys — fought among themselves, used pepper spray, knocked over barricades and removed traffic cones.”

“Some witnesses reported antifa supporters contributed to the fighting and pepper spraying, as well,” the university continued. “Some in the crowd used barricades to beat on the glass of the UC Davis Conference Center, where about 30 people were inside waiting for the event to begin.”

Reporter Andy Ngo, who has for years been reporting on Antifa’s antics, posted video of the mele.

The university confirmed that “UC Davis police were not deployed,” adding, “The students who organized the event agreed to cancel the remarks out of concern for safety.”

“Staff from Student Affairs on-site agreed that there was grave danger should the event continue,” the statement explains.

In its own statement, TPUSA conceded that “the bad guys won.”

“Once again, outside ‘protestors’ with zero connection to our organization or students used violence to disrupt our campus free speech event,” the organization, aimed at reaching young college-age conservatives, said. “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,” the statement continued.

“This is a great loss for free speech, our speaker Stephen Davis, and for the students at UC Davis,” the organization stated. “TPUSA condemns all violence and refuses to be cowed by those who use threats and intimidation to stop conservatives on campus.”

For its part, UC Davis claims it’s a champion of the First Amendment.

“It is unfortunate that the event could not proceed as planned,” it stated. “As a public institution, UC Davis values and supports freedom of expression as rights guaranteed to every citizen.”

The trouble started, said one UC Davis graduate, when the Proud Boys showed up.

“The Proud Boys came and they instigated fights and they hurt people with mace and fist fighting and scuffles and throwing things,” Will Alpers told local station KCRA. “So it does cross a line at some point from speech to violence.”


(Video: YouTube)

But many want to know why the university didn’t do more to secure the situation.

“The chapter was informed that UC Davis police would be present at the event and would intervene if protests turned violent,” TPUSA wrote on its website. “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.”

For one Twitter user, the answer is simple.

“There is a criminal army serving the Democrats,” the user tweeted. “History books will be written about this.”

Melissa Fine
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