As Students for Justice in Palestine marched across the California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) campus in protest of President Donald Trump‘s immigration Executive Order, a man who some say is a professor at the school allegedly assaulted a member of the College Republicans. The story is now going viral, so here is how it all allegedly went down.
It started with tweet from an account associated wth the CSUF College Republicans on Wednesday afternoon that claimed a man who said he was a professor assaulted one of their members.
A man claiming to be a professor has assaulted one of our protesters. We are in contact with the police.
— CSUF Republicans (@CSUFGOP) February 8, 2017
According to Campus Reform, the school’s College Republicans organized a counter protest to rally in favor of Trump’s Executive Order on Wednesday afternoon and that is when the man, they claim is a professor at the school, approached one of their members and an altercation occurred.
Here is how Amanda McGuire, the VP of the CSUF College Republicans chapter, explained the alleged incident to the news outlet
The CRs organized a counter protest, with just signs, to multiple student organizations who created an Anti-Muslim Ban/Anti-Trump protest, which consisted of speakers and various activities. After some time they began to march around the campus with our group following no less than 100-200 feet behind. Along the route a professor came up and started asking questions asking if there were any professors with us (there wasn’t) [and] stating that only uneducated people would be out here counter protesting. He continued to engage our group even though some of our members were over the conversation, and finally I turned and saw him lunge for a sign. Another member steps in between and he gets shoved, so he shoves back. [The man they claim to be a professor] managed to also push an ASI (student government) student [who was] trying to break up the scuffle.
Video of the alleged incident has appeared on YouTube recently and it appears to show the moments leading up to the alleged altercation. A man can be seen approaching the students and asking whether any professors were going to their protest. The remark seemingly implies the group lacked intelligence and their counter protest was unworthy of attention.
The man continues to follow the group, making various remarks when suddenly the video cuts off as people can be heard saying, “Whoa, whoa.”
It is at that time that the alleged incident took place. According to the report, the alleged victim filed a formal “battery” report against the purported professor with the campus police department and plans to move forward with pressing charges.
LawNewz reached out to the professor named by the College Republicans, but we have not received a response. We are withholding his name until he can be independently identified or he is formally charged with a crime.
We also reached out CSUF’s Associate Director, News Media Services, but we also have not received a response to our inquiries.
This story will be updated if we receive a reply or additional information becomes available.
6:00 p.m. UPDATE:
Cal-State Fullerton released the following statement to LawNewz:
As stated via social media yesterday, the University prizes and promotes free and open expression. Any violent incident that attempts to impede free expression, however isolated, is unacceptable.
During a student-organized rally held on campus on Wednesday, there was a physical interaction between CSUF students and a lecturer.Law enforcement is conducting an investigation, and the district attorney will assess the relevant facts. The University is also conducting an internal investigation.
The University cannot disclose information about any action that might be taken while the investigation is underway. As part of the investigation, all parties involved will have a full opportunity to explain what occurred from their perspective.
[image via screengrab]
