US: Protesters Disrupt TPUSA’s “Women’s Leadership Summit” in San Antonio

We hereby share the report published by The Worker on June 16th.

Around 100 protesters gathered in downtown San Antonio, Texas to disrupt and agitate against the ultra-reactionary organization Turning Point USA’s (TPUSA) “Women’s Leadership Summit” led by Erika Kirk on June 6th.

Erika Kirk is the leader of TPUSA and the wife of the annihilated ultra-reactionary media personality and founder of TPUSA, Charlie Kirk.

In addition to Erika Kirk, speakers at the TPUSA event included former Trump Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany and Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. TPUSA wrote of the event, “women of all ages are coming together to strengthen their minds, cultivate wellness, step boldly into their purpose, and anchor their spirits in faith.”

The protest against TPUSA was organized by People’s Verdict, an organization involved in the anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) movement in San Antonio.

The protest lasted around three hours, with protesters shouting chants and slogans against TPUSA and Erika Kirk, including, “Erika Kirk go to hell, it is right to rebel,” “Erika Kirk protects pedophiles,” and “Kick out Kirk”.

The protest faced repression from police, Marriott’s security personnel, and “peace police” who attempted to control protesters and keep them on sidewalks and away from the entrance of the hotel. A small number of counter-protesters and members of reactionary media attempted to confront protesters during and after the protest.

The San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) threatened mass arrests against protesters if they ignored police orders.

Despite these threats, the protesters stood their ground and continued to disrupt the event. SAPD maced several protesters at the front of the crowd, attempted to arrest multiple people, and injured several, causing one young woman to bleed from the head. Despite calling in dozens more officers and state troopers, police only managed to arrest one protester and failed to disperse the crowd.

SAPD alleged that the arrested protester threw an empty water bottle at an officer before running in the opposite direction. The protester was taken to the Bexar County jail on charges of criminal trespass, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct.

TPUSA and its supporters condemned the protest, referring to protesters as “rioters” and “antifa.” They praised the police for brutalizing protesters while denouncing the so-called “violent left mob”.

One of the protest’s organizers told The Worker, “If the people and systems you fight and protest don’t react, then they don’t care,” she said, adding, “If they don’t like you, you’re doing something right.”