On Friday, April 4, 2025, the University of California-Davis became the latest battleground in the ongoing war on free speech, as masked left-wing protesters unleashed a violent attack on conservative students and staff attending a “Prove Me Wrong” event hosted by Turning Point USA (TPUSA). The event, which featured prominent conservative speaker Brandon Tatum, was meant to be a peaceful opportunity for debate and dialogue. However, it quickly devolved into a scene of destruction and chaos as the leftist agitators stormed the venue, causing significant damage and assaulting attendees.
The trouble began around an hour before the event was set to begin. A group of masked protesters — many affiliated with Antifa — arrived at the event’s location on the UC Davis campus and immediately began attacking the TPUSA staff. They destroyed a tent that had been set up for the event, tore down banners, and smashed foam boards that were part of the display. Worse still, the activists attempted to steal valuable equipment, including an iPad and a laptop from a TPUSA field representative.
Turning Point USA’s official Twitter account was quick to document the extent of the damage. “Our ‘Prove Me Wrong’ tabling event with @TheOfficerTatum at UC Davis was completely destroyed by violent protesters. They stole the canopy, ripped down banners, smashed foam boards, and even tried to steal the iPad and laptop of a @tpusastudents field rep,” the organization posted.
However, what made this attack even more disturbing was the inaction of the UC Davis campus police. As the violent protest unfolded, university law enforcement did little to protect the students or intervene. TPUSA staffers were reportedly shoved, had objects thrown at them, and were left unprotected as the attackers wreaked havoc. It wasn’t until the damage was already done that law enforcement formed a perimeter around the area. As TPUSA pointed out in their post, “This is the reality of free speech on campus.”
This isn’t the first time UC Davis has been the site of left-wing violence. Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, condemned the attack and pointed out the pattern of violent tactics employed by leftist groups at the university. “🚨BREAKING: ANTIFA has vandalized a TPUSA tabling event featuring @TheOfficerTatum, destroying our camera gear, tent, event signage, flipping tables, and assaulting our staff,” Kirk tweeted. “We are extremely lucky no one was seriously injured in the melee. While our people were under attack, police stood aside and did nothing.”
Kirk also drew attention to the broader problem at UC Davis, calling it “probably the most militant school in the country, with the largest Antifa presence.” He recounted a similar situation in March 2023, when Antifa operatives vandalized the school and clashed with police. “What we have is a pattern, with no signs of improvement,” Kirk noted, calling for action to address the growing radicalism on campus.
For conservatives at UC Davis, this attack wasn’t just an isolated incident — it was a wake-up call. As Kirk aptly stated, “This has gone on long enough. Violent vigilantes like these only fester and grow when they’re allowed to act with impunity like at UC Davis.” He called for arrests to be made and demanded that the university take a stronger stance in protecting free speech on campus. If UC Davis fails to ensure the safety of conservative students, Kirk argued, the Trump Administration should investigate the school’s continued receipt of federal taxpayer dollars.
In the aftermath of the attack, UC Davis Chancellor Gary May issued a statement condemning the violence and promising to hold those responsible accountable. “I want to unequivocally denounce the violence that occurred yesterday on the UC Davis campus during a student-sponsored event. What happened was appalling and completely unacceptable. There is zero tolerance for violence on our campuses — zero,” May stated.
While May claimed to support free speech and promised an internal review, his response raised questions about the university’s commitment to protecting the constitutional rights of its students. “Let me be clear: Those who were attacked did nothing but express themselves, in a non-violent manner. They were peacefully expressing their views — as is their right — and they should be able to do so without fear, intimidation, or violence,” May wrote.
While these words may sound reassuring, they ring hollow to many who believe UC Davis has allowed a hostile environment to thrive for too long. In addition to the review, May mentioned that the Police Accountability Board would be involved, but the vague nature of his statement left little confidence in any real consequences for the perpetrators.
The truth is that the Left’s war on free speech has escalated to new heights on campuses like UC Davis, and conservative students are paying the price. The failure of law enforcement to protect these students only underscores the broader problem at play: conservatives are being silenced, intimidated, and physically attacked with little to no consequence.
UC Davis, and universities across the country, must take a hard stance against this growing violence and ensure that free speech is protected, not just in theory, but in practice. If they won’t, conservative voices should not have to sit idly by as their rights are trampled. The time for real change is now, and it’s up to leaders like Charlie Kirk and the brave students at TPUSA to keep pushing back against the forces of intolerance on campus.
