LDT “Turning Point USA Closes “American Comeback” Tour at UC Berkeley Amid Heavy Protests and Tight Security”
Sources: Politico, The Guardian, KTVU
Berkeley, California — November 11, 2025
Turning Point USA’s “American Comeback” campus tour ended Monday night at the University of California, Berkeley, drawing nearly 900 attendees and hundreds of protesters in one of the most charged campus events of the year.
The conservative youth organization — long known for its fiery campus appearances and free-speech advocacy — filled Zellerbach Hall for a lineup of speakers that included TPUSA leaders, student activists, and guest commentators reflecting on the legacy of late founder Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated in September.
Outside, tensions ran high. Roughly 150 protesters gathered with banners and chants denouncing the group’s message, while supporters waved American flags and “Free Speech for All” placards. Police established barricades and closed portions of Bancroft Way after brief altercations broke out. Campus officials later confirmed at least three arrests for disorderly conduct.
“We came here to defend the right to speak — not to silence anyone,” said TPUSA communications director Erin Walsh, addressing the crowd. “This is exactly where Charlie wanted us to end this tour — in the birthplace of the free-speech movement.”
The university, anticipating unrest, required attendees to pre-register and pass through metal detectors. UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ released a statement afterward saying that while the event “tested the limits of civil dialogue,” it also demonstrated the institution’s “commitment to open discourse under the rule of law.”
The event capped a six-week tour that crisscrossed more than 20 campuses nationwide, focusing on conservative student organizing, energy independence, and national unity under the slogan “America’s comeback starts with courage.”
The U.S. Department of Justice announced it will review the university’s security preparations and the handling of counter-demonstrations, following public concerns about rising political tensions on campuses.
Analysts say the Berkeley stop underscored the broader challenge facing higher education — balancing open expression with safety in an increasingly polarized climate.
“It’s symbolic that Turning Point ended its tour here,” said Dr. Alyssa Greene, a political-communication scholar at Stanford. “Berkeley was the birthplace of the free-speech movement, and now it’s the frontline for defining what free speech means in 2025.”
