The Department of Justice introduced Tuesday it’s investigating protests that broke out on the University of California, Berkeley, this week during an event held by Turning Point USA, the group based by slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk that caters to youth on American campuses.
Protesters gathered hours earlier than the event, with some seen in standoffs with traces of police. Several arrests have been made by each metropolis and college officers, in response to UC Berkeley spokesperson Dan Mogulof, who condemned any violence across the event.
Both the FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force and the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division will examine what occurred during the event Monday, in response to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who oversees the Civil Rights Division.
The investigation will contain “a deep dive into all the potential criminal and civil aspects of this horrific situation, including our concerns about UC Berkeley’s history of not protecting conservative speakers on its campus,” Dhillon stated on X, noting the UC Berkeley Police Department has been requested to preserve all records relating to its response at Monday’s event.
The college is conducting its personal investigation and can totally cooperate with federal authorities “to identify the outside agitators responsible for attempting to disrupt last night’s TPUSA event,” Mogulof stated in a press release Tuesday.
“There is no place at UC Berkeley for attempts to use violence or intimidation to prevent lawful expression or chill free speech,” Mogulof stated.
The college spokesperson famous the Turning Point event “proceeded safely and without interruption, with more than 900 participants in attendance.”
At least three folks have been arrested Monday, the UC Berkeley police division and town’s Berkeley Police Department informed NCS affiliate KGO. One of these was a scholar who was launched after being cited. Another particular person was charged with trespassing and obstruction, in response to KGO.
One man seen being taken into custody with a bloodied face was later recognized by police as a sufferer and launched. Witnesses informed KGO the person was assaulted whereas promoting Turning Point merchandise. Another man taken in custody on the identical time was charged with theft and battery, KGO reported.
NCS has reached out to school and metropolis police for extra particulars.
Both Dhillon and Bondi described the protests as violent and blamed Antifa, the anti-fascism motion President Donald Trump designated as a domestic terrorist organization in September. Last month the DOJ introduced its first federal terrorism case in opposition to alleged Antifa-aligned operatives.
“The violent riots at UC Berkeley last night are under full investigation by the FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force. We will continue to spare no expense unmasking all who commit and orchestrate acts of political violence,” Bondi wrote on X, describing Antifa as “an existential threat to our nation.”
The president of Turning Point’s UC Berkeley chapter condemned the violence however acknowledged most protests on Monday have been peaceable, in response to KGO.
“There’s only a handful of incidents … but a handful of incidents is too many,” chapter president John Paul Leon stated.