Turning Point USA, or TPUSA, will make the final stop of its nationwide tour at Zellerbach Hall this Monday at 6:30 p.m. The end of the tour comes exactly two months afterfounder and president Charlie Kirk wasassassinated at Utah Valley University.
The event will feature conservative activists Rob Schneider and Frank Turek. Schneider is a comedian known for spreading anti-vaccine conspiracy theories andTurek is author of the book “Correct, Not Politically Correct; How Same-Sex Marriage Hurts Everyone.”
Several campus groups are planning to protest the event beginning at 4:30 p.m. Monday and said in an Instagram post, “TPUSA is not welcome here!”
Organizers include Students Organizing for Liberation, Cal Young Democratic Socialists of America, Jewish Voice for Peace, GABRIELA Berkeley and Koreans for Decolonization.
On Nov. 5, an email from campus administration offering resources to studentswas sent to students who self-identify as LGBTQ+ in campus records regarding the event.
The email affirmed TPUSA’s free speech rights but added, “often some speakers use protests against them as a means to gain followers on social media and amplify the reach of harmful messages.”
“As per long-standing university policies and values, UC Berkeley works to support the rights and ability of all speakers to participate in events hosted by student organizations without regard for their beliefs and perspectives,” said campus spokesperson Dan Mogulof in an email.
In a previous interview, John Paul Leon, president of TPUSA at Berkeley, said the event would have tightened security and that TPUSA was working with campus to address all security concerns.
As a result of the event, the Cesar Chavez Student Center will also close early Monday at 1 p.m. Due to building closure, the Student Learning Center will be holding all services online. On Monday, the Queer Alliance Resource Center and Gender Equity Resource Center will be holding a community space from 6-9 p.m., according to the email sent to self-identifying LGBTQ+ students.