What to know about the Turning Point USA incident on Arizona State University's campus

An incident last week in which a queer professor was confronted and injured at Arizona State University has captured widespread attention and intensified discourse around free speech, academic freedom and faculty safety on college campuses.

The incident occurred in Tempe near the Fulton Garage, according to ASU Police. Security camera footage obtained by The Arizona Republic via a public records request shows an ASU writing instructor being followed by two Turning Point USA representatives, who the group characterized as a "reporter" and "cameraman."

At one point, the surveillance video shows the professor reaching toward the camera and that he may have made contact with the person filming. The video then appears to show the other Turning Point USA representative rushing toward the professor and pushing him onto the ground.

In an Instagram post describing the confrontation, the professor said he attempted to block the camera because he feared that video of the encounter would lead to harassment and threats against him. He also shared an image of injuries to his face, which he described as "relatively minor."

Turning Point USA officials say the faculty member made the first move by "lunging, pushing and clawing" at the person filming him. The organization has since reiterated that it believes the professor made contact with its "cameraman" and began the altercation.

The incident remains under investigation by ASU Police. Here's what to know.

What is Turning Point USA?

Turning Point USA is an Arizona-based conservative activism group. Founded in 2012 by Charlie Kirk, the organization has built a grassroots apparatus on college and high school campuses.

It has backed some of the most controversial figures in Republican politics over the past decade, including former President Donald Trump and many of his loyalists. The group also has a related political advocacy arm, Turning Point Action.

The organization maintains a "professor watchlist," which the group describes as consisting of "professors who discriminate against conservative students and advance leftist propaganda in the classroom."

The two Turning Point USA representatives involved in the altercation at ASU are affiliated with FRONTLINES, an online show the group produces. The show recently launched a "Child Safety Unit" that "takes aim at hunting down predators for preying and grooming minors," according to an announcement emailed to people on the group's mailing list.

Accusing LGBTQ+ people of pedophilia and "grooming" young people to be victims of sexual abuse has reemerged in recent years as a common political attack by far-right extremists.

Earlier this year, in a similar incident, people representing Turning Point USA approached and filmed a professor of LGBTQ+ studies on the University of Arizona campus, according to the group's website.

How have ASU leaders reacted?

Arizona State University President Michael Crow published a letter to faculty and staff condemning the conservative group Turning Point USA for its role in the incident.

He called the two Turning Point USA affiliates involved in the altercation "cowards" while pledging to protect the university's faculty.

"Let me assure all of you that ASU will do all that we can to end the bullying and intimidation of our faculty members by Turning Point USA and to reduce threats against the members of the ASU community which arise from such actions," Crow said.

Arizona Board of Regents Chair Fred DuVal joined Crow in condemning the conservative organization. The Board of Regents is the governing body for Arizona's three state universities.

"Turning Point USA should be ashamed for its targeted intimidation campaign against university professors," DuVal said in a statement. "This organization needs to stop putting people at risk."

How has Turning Point USA reacted?

Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for Turning Point USA, called Crow's letter "laughable."

He said Crow should be "very careful" of "how he tries to spin" the incident, noting Arizona's projected $400 million budget deficit. While on stage at ASU in September, Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk called on state lawmakers to defund the university.

Arizona Sen. Anthony Kern, R-Glendale, told The Arizona Republic in a written statement that he had "reviewed the video evidence" and accused Crow of misrepresenting the altercation.

Kern was one of the lawmakers in attendance at Kirk's talk in September and is on a Republican-led legislative committee investigating freedom of expression at Arizona's public universities. He was one of 11 Arizona Republicans who falsely posed as certified electors in an attempt to circumvent the results of the 2020 presidential election.

"For President Crow to clearly misrepresent what's in the video is certainly something we will take note of in our committee," Kern said.

Kern's statement to The Republic was initially provided by Kolvet, the Turning Point USA spokesperson. Kern later confirmed to The Republic that they were his words.

What security plans does ASU have in place?

Last week, university officials pointed to the school's threat assessment and management team as an option to assist faculty experiencing harassment or intimidation. That group works to respond in a "timely manner to all reports of harassment or threats, help employees navigate appropriate resources for support and work with ASU PD and other law enforcement agencies as appropriate," said ASU spokesperson Veronica Sanchez.

ASU also has a team that "actively monitors and investigates all potential online threats and harassment, working closely with law enforcement," Sanchez said.

If a faculty member or student is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, they should call 911, ASU officials said.

The university's non-emergency police line is 480-965-3456, officials said.

Students, faculty and staff can also submit anonymous tips to ASU police via the ASU LiveSafe app, officials said.

Could the incident be investigated as a hate crime?

Arizona doesn't have a hate crime statute, said ASU Police spokesperson Adam Wolfe.

However, ASU's ongoing police investigation will include probing whether "bias or prejudice" was a factor, he said.

"Obviously, we know part of their motive," he said. "We want to try to figure out if that's the whole motive. ... Why did they feel so brazen to come onto campus and confront this professor?"

If the investigation finds that the professor was targeted because of his sexuality, aggravated assault charges could be brought, Wolfe said. That could result in a greater penalty.

"The bias is the aggravating factor," Wolfe said.

Sasha Hupka covers higher education for The Arizona Republic. Do you have a tip on Arizona's universities, community colleges or trade schools? Reach her at sasha.hupka@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @SashaHupka. Follow her on Instagram or Threads: @sashahupkasnaps.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Turning Point USA incident with ASU professor: Here's what to know