Tensions Erupt at UC Berkeley as Turning Point USA Caps Tour with High-Security Event Amid Protests (VIDEO)
- Jerry Guinati
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Berkeley, CA – November 10, 2025 In a night marked by clashing ideologies, heightened security, and echoes of tragedy, Turning Point USA (TPUSA) brought its "American Comeback Tour" to a close at the University of California, Berkeley, drawing hundreds of attendees to Zellerbach Hall while protesters clashed with police outside. The event, billed as "This Is The Turning Point," unfolded under the shadow of the September 10 assassination of TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk, whose death at a Utah Valley University speaking engagement has galvanized the conservative youth organization and intensified national debates over campus free speech and political violence.
The 6:30 p.m. gathering, free but ticketed with strict photo ID checks, featured comedian and actor Rob Schneider and Christian apologist Frank Turek as headliners—stand-ins for Kirk, who was originally slated to appear. Both speakers shared deep personal ties to the late activist: Turek, a longtime mentor, was present during Kirk's fatal shooting, while Schneider, a vocal conservative, has long championed TPUSA's mission to foster free-market principles and limited government on college campuses.
Organizers anticipated around 300 attendees, though the 2,000-seat venue could accommodate far more, with tickets distributed via email only on the day of the event to prevent disruptions.
John Paul Leon, president of TPUSA's Berkeley chapter—established in 2019—described the evening as a defiant stand for conservative voices in a historically liberal stronghold. "We're here to honor Charlie's legacy and show that his ideas won't be silenced," Leon told reporters earlier in the day, emphasizing collaboration with campus officials on enhanced protocols like bag checks, prohibited items lists, and bolstered police presence inside and out.
The chapter, which promotes conservative activism among students, framed the tour's Berkeley finale as a symbolic "belly of the beast" confrontation, with membership reportedly surging nationwide since Kirk's killing.UC Berkeley administrators, led by Assistant Vice Chancellor Dan Mogulof, underscored their commitment to free expression while prioritizing safety. "As per long-standing university policies, we support the rights of all speakers without regard for their beliefs," Mogulof stated in an email to media outlets. Citing directives from UC President James B. Milliken following Kirk's murder, the campus implemented indoor venue restrictions, ticket scanning, and additional law enforcement—measures aimed at mitigating risks after the FBI labeled the Utah incident a "targeted politically motivated attack."
Details on exact security enhancements remained undisclosed to avoid tipping off potential threats.Outside, the atmosphere quickly devolved into chaos as a coalition of left-wing groups—including Students Organizing for Liberation, Cal Young Democratic Socialists of America, Jewish Voice for Peace, GABRIELA Berkeley, and self-identified Antifa militants—rallied against the event. Flyers circulated by the organizers decried TPUSA as a "fascist" outfit promoting "hate speech," with chants of "Stop fascism!" and "No Nazis on campus!" echoing through the streets.
Protesters, some masked and numbering in the dozens, blocked the single entrance to Zellerbach Hall, hurling insults at arriving students and MAGA-clad supporters.Tensions boiled over into violence shortly after gates opened. Eyewitness videos captured a brawl between an Antifa protester and a Trump supporter, leaving the latter bloodied and alleging an attempted robbery. Police intervened, arresting both combatants and several others amid attempts by demonstrators to "de-arrest" their ally. Protesters then rushed barriers, detonating smoke grenades and fireworks, forcing attendees to be herded inside under police escort. Chants turned uglier, with some mocking Kirk's death by shouting "F*ck your dead homie" and praising the assassination—a display that drew swift condemnation from TPUSA officials and observers.
At least four arrests were reported by Berkeley police, including for assault, disorderly conduct, and resisting detention, as the crowd swelled and fireworks were deployed like tear gas bombs. Campus access was partially shut down to shield TPUSA participants, with officers struggling to maintain a buffer zone—a lapse criticized by on-scene journalists as a "complete failure" of separation protocols. Fox News and independent reporters, including Andy Ngo and Savanah Hernandez, documented the melee live, highlighting what they called a surge in Antifa aggression.
The unrest recalls Berkeley's turbulent history of political clashes, from the 1960s Free Speech Movement to violent shutdowns of conservative speakers like Milo Yiannopoulos in 2017. Critics on the left, including protesters, accused TPUSA of amplifying divisive rhetoric, while supporters decried the demonstrations as intolerant suppression.
"With the event wrapping up late into the evening, the Berkeley stop not only honored Kirk's vision but reignited broader questions: In an era of rising political violence, can campuses truly host unfiltered debate? As one attendee put it amid the fray, "This is the turning point—literally." Updates on arrests and injuries are expected from authorities tomorrow.