Video: Brawl breaks out during Turning Point USA event on UC Berkeley campus

A Turning Point USA (TPUSA) event at the University of California, Berkeley descended into chaos Monday night after violent clashes broke out between protesters and supporters, leading to multiple arrests and a federal investigation.

The scuffle erupted near Bancroft Way, where hundreds of attendees had gathered for TPUSA’s "This Is The Turning Point" tour, featuring comedian Rob Schneider and author Dr. Frank Turek. It was the final night of the nationwide campus tour -- the first since the assassination of Charlie Kirk, TPUSA’s founder, two months ago in Utah.

Videos circulating online showed protesters, many wearing keffiyehs and waving signs that read "No safe space for fascist sc**," clashing with police in riot gear. Officers from the Berkeley Police Department, California Highway Patrol, and campus security were seen donning shields and batons as the crowd grew increasingly volatile.

At one point, panic broke out when a passing car blared what sounded like gunfire, prompting dozens of people to dive for cover behind barricades.

According to witnesses, quoted by local media, said tensions had been rising since late afternoon, with demonstrators chanting, "No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA."

FBI LAUNCH INVESTIGATION

In a statement released on Tuesday, Attorney General Pamela Bondi condemned the violence and confirmed that the FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force had opened an investigation.

"Antifa is an existential threat to our nation," Bondi said. "The violent riots at UC Berkeley last night are under full investigation by the FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force. We will continue to spare no expense unmasking all who commit and orchestrate acts of political violence."

Bondi added that the Department of Justice would also look into potential security failures and "any who enabled such violence".

"Under President Trump’s leadership, and pursuant to his Executive Order designating Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, the Department of Justice and our law-enforcement partners are dismantling violent networks that seek to intimidate Americans and suppress their free expression and First Amendment rights," she said.

TURNING POINT USA BLAMES ANTIFA

Mikey McCoy, former chief of staff to Charlie Kirk, accused Antifa members of infiltrating the campus and "breaking through police barricades".

"Antifa is breaking through police barricades and threatening our event attendees!" McCoy wrote on X, sharing footage of protesters throwing objects and attempting to storm the venue.

Turning Point USA said in a statement that it was "deeply disturbed" by the violence and thanked law enforcement for "preventing what could have been far worse".

UC Berkeley spokesperson Dan Mogulof said the university condemned all acts of violence, reiterating its support for free speech on campus.

"The university supports the rights of all speakers to participate in student-hosted events without regard to their beliefs," Mogulof said, adding that Berkeley police and campus security worked together to protect both attendees and demonstrators.

According to The New York Post, Police identified one of the arrested individuals as Jihad Dphrepaulezz, 25, who now faces charges of assault and robbery. Authorities said Dphrepaulezz allegedly snatched a chain necklace from a TPUSA attendee, sparking a violent confrontation that left the victim bloodied and dazed.

Videos circulating online appeared to show Dphrepaulezz snatching the chain from a supporter’s neck as protesters clashed with event-goers. Moments later, the man chased Dphrepaulezz down before being tackled and beaten. Photographs taken afterward showed the victim’s face covered in blood.

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