Clashes Erupt at UC Berkeley During TPUSA Event as Student Conservatives Say Campus Feels Polarized

Overview: Members of the Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapter at the University of California, Berkeley say they faced intense protests and some violence when they held a campus event attended by roughly 900 people. Organizers and student conservative leaders described chaotic scenes outside Zellerbach Hall, viral video footage of an assault, and several arrests. UC Berkeley officials emphasized their commitment to free expression and safety while investigating the incident.

What happened

On Monday evening, an event hosted by Berkeley’s TPUSA chapter, titled This Is The Turning Point and featuring author Frank Turek and actor Rob Schneider, proceeded inside Zellerbach Hall. According to local police and event organizers, demonstrators gathered outside the venue and several confrontations occurred near the perimeter. A viral video showing a man assaulting a TPUSA supporter led to at least one arrest; Berkeley Police said they also witnessed another fight and that several arrests were connected to the campus activity.

Student accounts

John Paul Leon, president of Berkeley’s TPUSA chapter, told Fox News Digital the week leading up to the event was "hectic," with protesters carrying signs and calling attendees names. "We pulled it through, and we had a really nice turnout," he said, adding that inside the hall the program ran smoothly thanks to security and law enforcement.

Martin Bertao, a junior and president of the College Republicans at Berkeley, described the campus atmosphere as "certainly hostile." He told reporters that he feels ostracized when expressing conservative views in class and said the protests made him feel unsafe on campus. Bertao also alleged that on the day a student named Charlie was killed on campus, some people celebrated the death; this is presented here as his account of what he observed.

Miguel Muniz, president of Berkeley’s College Republicans and chair of the California College Republicans, said he was caught up in the chaos outside the event. He thanked law enforcement for their response and described hostile encounters while tabling on campus: students yelling, making obscene gestures and, he said, occasionally spitting.

University response and investigation

UC Berkeley issued a statement emphasizing its commitment to "an open and robust marketplace of ideas" and to ensuring the safety and respect of people with different viewpoints. Chancellor Rich Lyons said campus officials worked with event organizers in advance and that UCPD enlisted multiple law enforcement agencies to secure the gathering. Lyons noted that an estimated 900 people attended and that the program "proceeded without disruption" inside the hall, with civil dialogue taking place among attendees.

The chancellor indicated that UCPD is conducting a review of the incidents and cooperating with federal civil rights officials as needed. UC Berkeley said it will continue evaluating policies and practices to protect both free expression and public safety on campus.

Context and next steps

Student leaders said the heightened attention around the campus chapter reflects broader national debate over campus politics and conservative activism. Organizers and campus officials alike signaled a desire to hold future events while preventing violence and ensuring a safe environment for attendees and protesters. Investigations by local authorities and campus police are ongoing.

Note: Some earlier reports and social media posts contained inaccurate or unverified claims about unrelated incidents involving national figures and the identification of federal officials. This version corrects or omits those unverified assertions and sticks to verified local reporting and named eyewitness accounts.