A sold-out event for Charlie Kirk's Turning Point USA at the University of California, Berkeley descended into chaos on Monday, November 10, 2025, as violent protests erupted, leading to clashes with police and multiple arrests. The event, part of the 'American Comeback' tour, was hosted by the university's TPUSA chapter and featured prominent figures, continuing despite the significant unrest.
Protesters Clash with Police and Attendees
The situation escalated when over 100 demonstrators gathered outside the venue, voicing strong opposition to the conservative movement. Protesters were seen blocking every entrance to the hall and shouting slogans such as 'Fascists out of Berkeley' and 'No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA'. They carried signs with messages like 'We won the war, why are there still Nazis' and 'No safe space for fascist scum'.
Viral videos from the scene captured intense scuffles between protesters, event attendees, and law enforcement officers. The clashes left several individuals covered in blood, highlighting the severity of the confrontation. The protest initially broke out between an individual identified as an Antifa protester and a supporter of former US President Donald Trump.
Official Responses and Arrests
Mikey McCoy, the Chief of Staff for Turning Point USA, took to social media platform X to blame 'Antifa' for the disruption. "Right now at our Turning Point USA campus tour stop at UC Berkeley… Antifa is breaking through police barricades and threatening our event attendees," he stated.
Berkeley police confirmed that they made at least two arrests before the event began, including one individual for battery. In a significant development, Harmeet Dhillon, the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the Justice Department, announced that she would be opening an investigation into the incident.
"The @CivilRights will investigate what happened here, and I see several issues of serious concern regarding campus and local security and Antifa’s ability to operate with impunity in CA," Dhillon said in a post on X. She added, "In America, we do not allow citizens to be attacked by violent thugs and shrug and turn our backs. Been there, done that, not on our watch."
Event Proceeds Amidst Unrest
Despite the chaotic scenes outside, the hours-long event inside Zellerbach Hall proceeded. The panel featured comedian and actor Rob Schneider and Christian author Frank Turek, along with other speakers. Following the event, Schneider posted a photo of a protester on social media, asking, "Who is THIS violent agitator?"
Andrew Kolvet, the new spokesperson for TPUSA, celebrated the fact that the event continued, stating on X, "Despite Antifa thugs blocking our campus tour stop with tear gas, fireworks, and glass bottles, we had a PACKED HOUSE in the heart of deep blue UC Berkeley."
The event was emotionally charged for many attendees, given the recent killing of founder Charlie Kirk, who was shot on September 10 while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University. One attendee who drove five hours from Santa Maria told the Daily Mail that she was drawn to Kirk's religious teachings. "His message about traditional family values, about what it means to be a godly husband or wife - that's what stuck with me," she said, adding that Charlie inspired them.
