10
Loading video...
By James Bickerton
News Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Riley Gaines hit out at San Francisco State University (SFSU) after an email was sent to all students thanking those who "participated peacefully in Thursday evening's event" when demonstrators stormed a talk being held by Gaines and allegedly physically assaulted her.
Gaines, a former college swimmer, was speaking about the role of transgender athletes in women's sports at an event hosted by the conservative group Turning Point USA on Thursday. A video posted on social media showed Gaines being escorted to safety by police after dozens of protestors got inside the venue, with the ex-college athlete claiming she was "physically hit twice by a man," and trapped in an empty classroom for three hours.
The disturbance takes place against the backdrop of heated debate over whether trans women should compete in women's sports, with many Republican-controlled states imposing restrictions on transgender athletes in schools.
Read More
Marjorie Taylor Greene Furious Over Riley Gaines Attack by Trans Activists4 min read
Moment Swimmer Riley Gaines Is Abused by Trans Activists Viewed 450,000 Times4 min read
Trump’s Kiss Attempt on Swimmer Riley Gaines Creates Awkward CPAC Moment4 min read
An email was sent to SFSU students by Jamillah Moore, the university's vice president for student affairs, discussing Thursday's events.
Moore thanked those students who "participated peacefully in Thursday's event", whilst making no mention of the disruption or alleged assault on Gaines.
She added: "Diversity promotes critical discussions, new understandings and enriches the academic experience. But we may also find ourselves exposed to divergent views and even views we find personally abhorrent.
...
"These encounters have sometimes led to discord, anger, confrontation and fear. We must meet this moment and unite with a shared value of learning."
The email directed students to the university counselling service, and it's "equality and community inclusion" initiative, as "you reflect, process and begin to heal."
Gaines hit back on Twitter, commenting: "I'm sorry did this just say PEACEFUL.... I was assaulted. I was extorted and held for random. The protestors demanded I pay them if I wanted to make it home safely. I missed my flight home because I was barricaded in a classroom...We must have different definitions of peaceful."
Newsweek has contacted SFSU and a representative for Gaines by email, and Turning Point USA via their official website.
On Friday SFSU sent Newsweek a comment from their University Police Department (UPD) when asked about the original incident.
It said: "We are conducting an ongoing investigation into the situation. There were no arrests related to the event.
"The disruption occurred after the conclusion of the event which made it necessary for UPD officers to move the event speaker from the room to a different, safe location."
The disruption of Gaines' talk was condemned by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who said: "This is an appalling attack on free speech on a college campus.
"House Republicans stand with Riley Gaines and her brave and tireless efforts to protect women's sports."
Twitter CEO Elon Musk responded to one of Gaines' tweets, in which she claimed "campus police and University did nothing" during the disruption, by commenting: "Cancel cancel culture."
In 2022 Lia Thomas, who Gaines competed against, became the first trans woman to win the NCAA Division I women's 500-yard freestyle event.
Gaines accused Thomas of having "an utter disregard" for women, whilst Thomas told ESPN that "trans women competing in women's sports does not threaten women's sports as a whole."
Update 04/09/23, 5:43 a.m. ET: This article was updated with further details.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines