A student was cited for simple assault and property damage after allegedly tackling a College Republican at the University of Utah during a confrontation over a campus poll about gender, moments after saying Republicans “should be shot in the streets,” according to video of the incident and a university spokesperson.
The confrontation unfolded outside the university’s Marriott Library, where members of the College Republicans had set up a whiteboard asking whether there are only two genders, The College Fix reported.
In a video shared Oct. 28 on X by University of Utah College Republicans officer Rylie Barnes, the student, identified by Fox 13 as Grace, is heard responding to a question about freedom of speech.
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In the video, a person identified as a College Republican asks the student, “Do you believe we should have the right to freedom of speech?”
“No, I think Republicans should be shot in the street, personally,” the student replied. The cameraholder says that it sounds like advocacy for violence. After a cut, the video then shows the person identified as a college Republican being knocked to the ground as he yells for the other student to stop; it’s unclear how much time transpired between the remarks and the fight.
Fox 13 reported, “The student, who identifies herself as Grace, told FOX 13 News that the confrontation was a ‘set up’ and accused College Republicans of instigating and escalating it. She alleges that after she left the table, the Republicans followed her while saying ‘you are denying biology.’ She also says she was punched in the face during the fight.”
In another interview, she said, “I believe I am a victim of transphobic aggression, and because the University protects the College Republicans and enables them to bully students, I was cited with these bogus charges.”
Rebecca Walsh, communications director at the University of Utah, told Fox News Digital in a statement Tuesday, “On Oct. 27 at 12:52 p.m., University of Utah Police responded to reports of a fight between two students on Marriott Plaza.”
Walsh continued, “While College Republicans were tabling on the plaza, another student approached the table and wiped off a whiteboard with their hand. To the side of the table, that student and one of the students tabling for the College Republicans started to argue about free speech and gender. The visiting student then assaulted the tabling student, knocking them to the ground and tearing their shirt. Police have identified the individual involved and issued two Class B misdemeanor citations–for simple assault and property damage.”
She added, “The investigation is ongoing. Support and resources have been offered to both students.”
Walsh also told Fox News Digital that the school could not disclose information about potential student disciplinary proceedings because of federal student privacy laws.
Walsh pointed to the university’s student code of conduct, which prohibits threats, physical assaults, intimidation and other behavior that endangers the safety of students or members of the campus community, including threats made online.
Walsh said the police investigation remains ongoing and the university has offered the alleged victim support and resources through its Student Affairs team.
Walsh also emphasized that the university, as a public institution, protects the expression of differing viewpoints, including those of the College Republicans and student groups calling for the citations issued to Grace to be dismissed.
Walsh said the university is waiting for the outcome of the police investigation and reiterated that the university condemns threats of violence against anyone on campus and responds swiftly to such incidents.
The Utah Anti-War Committee issued a statement supporting who it identified as Amber Grace, writing, “Even though the College Republicans began this harassment, Amber is now facing misdemeanor charges of assault and property damage for resisting transphobia. Amber is a dedicated member of the Salt Lake community as an anti-war activist, and she did nothing wrong by speaking against hateful Republican rhetoric.”
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The Anti-War Committee is calling on Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill to “refuse the charges on Amber Grace! Speaking out against transphobia is not a crime.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Grace, the University of Utah, the University of Utah College Republicans and Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill for comment.