Event Overview

More than 500 attendees gathered at the Mashouf Wellness Center for an event featuring conservative commentator Charlie Kirk and activist Riley Gaines, known for her stance against transgender athletes in women’s sports. This session was part of Kirk’s “The American Comeback Tour.”

An open-mic Q&A allowed for various discussions surrounding topics such as religion, human rights, and politics. Concurrently, over 200 students protested outside the venue, expressing their dissent towards the speakers.

Protests and Demonstrations

The protest initially commenced with a small group of students on Font Boulevard, which grew as more individuals joined in. A nearby band set up speakers, further energizing the protesters.

While the atmosphere inside the event remained relatively calm, tensions escalated outside as supporters of the speakers, displaying American flags and pro-Trump messages, interacted with opposing protesters. Both the event and the demonstration concluded around 3:30 p.m.

Mixed Reactions

The reception at the event was distinctly divided. Some attendees observed the discussions attentively, while others voiced strong opinions about Kirk’s and Gaines’ presence. Political science student Josephine Cava remarked, “I feel like he’s coming here to incite arguments with liberal campuses… but I guess freedom of speech.”

Local resident Julie Lane, a supporter of Gaines, asserted the importance of challenging prevailing ideologies, stating, “I think it’s important to challenge these kids… what happened to her here.”

Key Highlights from the Event

One of the pivotal questions directed at Gaines concerned the involvement of transgender athletes in competitive sports. Gaines responded in line with previous remarks, stating, “If by transgender athletes, you mean men, why am I disgusted with men participating in women’s sports? It’s because I lived it.”

Community resident Devin Gall expressed his support for the event, framing it as an opportunity for dialogue: “Charlie Kirk coming to San Francisco State is very beneficial because there are a lot of different opinions here.”

Protests Outside the Venue

Among those protesting, Benny Toe, a nursing student, voiced frustrations over the event, suggesting it aimed to provoke students into conflict with law enforcement. Another protester, Miranda Bradey, emphasized her determination to be heard, stating, “I’m not going to shut up until I’m heard.”

Debate Dynamics

SFSU alum Luke Del Monte aimed to debate Kirk on biblical interpretations of slavery. He criticized Kirk for not allowing him to express his points fully, noting, “Charlie Kirk does not know how to listen to people; he’s just wanting to assume my point.”

Ultimately, Kirk wrapped up the event similarly to how it began, tossing “Make America Great Again” hats into the crowd while proclaiming, “We’ll make San Francisco red. That’ll be fun.”

Conclusion

The contrasting perspectives highlighted during the event and the accompanying protests reflect larger societal debates over gender identity and political discourse. As universities continue to serve as venues for such discussions, the balance between free speech and protest remains a critical topic.