URGENT UPDATE: Three people were arrested Monday night during a chaotic Turning Point USA event at UC Berkeley, marking the organization’s first visit to a California college since the tragic death of co-founder Charlie Kirk on September 10. Tensions escalated outside Zellerbach Hall as hundreds of protesters voiced their opposition, leading to violence and police intervention.
The event, part of the “American Comeback Tour,” saw two individuals detained following a physical altercation outside the venue. One person, identified by a red shirt that read “freedom,” sustained facial injuries in the scuffle. A third individual was arrested after breaching police barricades that separated demonstrators from attendees.
Protesters, numbering in the hundreds, expressed their dissent through signs and chants, while some hurled glass containers filled with a blue substance, causing confusion and panic among event-goers. Eyewitness Brynn Pannier, 18, who traveled from Davis to attend, shared her fear as projectiles flew overhead: “That was really scary. I just felt nervous. Things were being thrown, and I lost my friends.”
Security measures were heightened for the event, with officers from local agencies and the UC system deployed to maintain order. UC Berkeley spokesperson Dan Mogulof emphasized the university’s commitment to student safety, stating, “We have an unwavering commitment to supporting any and every student group who wishes to meet on campus. Our responsibility is to ensure they provide the resources necessary to keep people safe.”
As protests intensified, some demonstrators resorted to further violence, throwing a rock that struck a helmeted officer’s face shield. The palpable tension surrounding the event is reflective of growing concerns regarding political violence on college campuses, heightened by Kirk’s recent death.
Authorities confirm that the police presence was larger than usual, alarming students like Anika Yadav, a junior at UC Berkeley. “It’s crazy to see the amount of police force out here. It’s shocking to see this,” she remarked.
The Bay Area News Group faced challenges in covering the event, as a last-minute credential issue prevented a reporter and photographer from entering the premises. This incident underscores the ongoing struggle between free speech and campus security.
With the situation still developing, updates will follow as more information emerges regarding the arrests and the implications for future events on campus.
