A protest at the University of California, Davis turned chaotic over the weekend, as a group of antifascist demonstrators was captured on video confronting members of the conservative student organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA). The confrontation includes footage of a TPUSA activist being punched in the head and the group’s branded tent being dragged away by protesters.
The incident occurred on the university’s central quad, where TPUSA had set up a booth. According to the footage, tensions escalated quickly as protesters in black bloc attire approached the table. One individual can be seen striking a TPUSA member before several others dismantle and abscond with the group’s tent.
The video, which was posted to Reddit under the title “UC Davis antifascists f***ing steal TPUSA’s tent,” has sparked debate across political lines. The post has become a flashpoint in a broader conversation about campus protest, free speech, and the role of law enforcement in politically charged demonstrations.
Notably, two police officers appear in the background of the video and do not intervene during the altercation. That detail has become a focal point of criticism in the Reddit thread, with many users referencing UC Davis’s checkered history with protest policing, including the 2011 incident where campus police were filmed pepper-spraying seated student demonstrators. Some users speculated that officers may have been intentionally restrained due to that legacy, while others accused them of passivity in the face of rising tensions.
Among the protesters was Beth Bourne, identified in the comments as a leader in the local chapter of Moms for Liberty, a conservative advocacy group frequently at the center of education and policy controversies. Her presence further fueled online vitriol, with several commenters referencing her past appearances at drag events and aligning her with what they characterize as broader far-right agendas.
Critics of TPUSA argue that the group’s presence on campus represents an intentional provocation, particularly in a political climate already polarized by debates around gender identity, race, and education policy. Supporters, meanwhile, have condemned the assault and property damage, framing the event as an example of political violence and suppression of conservative viewpoints.
The university has not yet released an official statement, and it’s unclear whether any arrests have been made or disciplinary action taken.
