‘Trans’ student allegedly assaults intern for conservative group during tabling event at Utah University

In a sudden escalation of a conversation about gender at the University of Utah Oct. 27, a male college student who identifies as a woman allegedly attacked a student intern with Advocates for Faith and Freedom (AFF), who was at College Republicans table on campus, according to reports. 

The intern, a college sophomore who was not publicly named, was at the table “in a peaceful discussion when a fellow student assaulted him for believing that there are only two genders,” according to an emailed press release from the nonprofit legal ministry AFF.

On the day of the incident, the University of Utah College Republicans had set up a whiteboard at the tabling event that asked, “There are only two genders: yes or no?” 

According to the AFF release, a student identified as Amber Grace approached the table and wiped the whiteboard clean. The release states that one of the students attempted to engage in civil dialogue with Grace, and during the conversation, asked Grace whether students should have the right to freedom of speech. 

Video footage of the exchange and the release relate that Grace replied, “I think Republicans should be shot in the street, personally.” 

The video footage shows Grace and the intern continuing their conversation for a few more moments. According to the release, Grace then abruptly and without provocation “tackled the student, who was substantially smaller than Grace, to the ground and tore both the t-shirt and sweatshirt open.”

On Oct. 27 the Utah College Republicans X account posted a photo of the intern, showing the ripped hoodie and shirt.  

The Cougar Chronicle reported that a university spokesperson told the outlet that the university police responded to reports of a fight between two students at 12:52 p.m. on Oct. 27. 

“While College Republicans were tabling on the plaza, another student approached the table and wiped off a whiteboard with their hand,” the spokesperson said. “To the side of the table, that student and one of the students tabling for the College Republicans started to argue about free speech and gender. The visiting student then assaulted the tabling student, knocking them to the ground and tearing their shirt.”

“Police have identified the individual involved and issued two Class B misdemeanor citations — for simple assault and property damage,” the spokesperson added, according to the outlet. “Support and resources have been offered to both students. The investigation is ongoing.”

Riley Beesley, chairman of the Utah College Republicans, posted a screenshot of this statement to X, adding, “2 Class B misdemeanors don’t get you expelled—or even in trouble?

But last month Rylie [Vice President for College Republicans at University of Utah] and I were threatened expulsion when we called behavior like this out? INSANE!"

According to 2KUTV, Grace said that the charges should be dismissed. 

“I believe I am a victim of transphobic aggression,” Grace said, according to the outlet, “and because the University protects the College Republicans and enables them to bully students, I was cited with these bogus charges.”

Supporters release statements defending Grace

Several groups have expressed support for Grace. The Community Defense Club of Utah Valley University, the Queer Student Union of Utah, Armed Queers Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake City district of Freedom Road Socialist, and the Utah Anti-War Committee collaborated in a joint Instagram post calling for the charges on Grace to be dropped and stating, “After being transphobically harassed by the Utah College Republicans, Amber is now facing misdemeanor charges of assault and property damage for simply speaking against transphobia.” 

The Utah Anti-War Committee issued a statement publicized by Fight Back News Service Oct. 28 in support of Grace and calling on Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill to refuse the charges. 

The statement says that on Oct. 27 Grace “was the victim of a transphobic attack by the Utah College Republicans. She was accosted by College Republican members after speaking out against the transphobic rhetoric they were pushing at their table.”

The statement says that after leaving the table, Grace was “followed and harassed with transphobic attacks and recorded without her consent. Even though the College Republicans began this harassment, Amber is now facing misdemeanor charges of assault and property damage for resisting transphobia. Amber is a dedicated member of the Salt Lake community as an anti-war activist, and she did nothing wrong by speaking against hateful Republican rhetoric.”

The statement also includes contact information for the Salt Lake County district attorney and a draft script to urge him to refuse the charges on Grace. The committee also called on the university’s president Taylor Randall to “ban the College Republicans from harassing marginalized students on campus.” 

At the time of publication, no specific details on harassing statements from the College Republicans have been reported. 

Intern forgives Grace, says goal on campus is to foster ‘open and honest dialogue’ 

In its release, AFF called on the university to thoroughly investigate the incident, ensure student safety, and uphold the First Amendment rights of every student. According to AFF’s release, after the assault, the intern expressed forgiveness toward Grace, in comments also heard in the video footage. 

In the release, the intern commented, “My goal on campus is to help create spaces of open and honest dialogue where people across the political spectrum can participate and exchange ideas and grow. To be violently attacked merely for my political affiliation, despite my repeated call for civil dialogue, should be a wake-up call to all that the threat of violence is real and must not be tolerated.”

“I will always stand up for fairness, civility, and equal treatment under the law and ask others to do the same,” the intern added. “This attack will not deter me from standing up for open dialogue and fighting to restore our God-given right to freedom of speech as enshrined in our Constitution.”

AFF emphasized in the release that it condemns the attack. Erin Elizabeth Mersino, vice president and chief of Supreme Court and Appellate Litigation for AFF, highlighted that universities exist to facilitate free exchange of ideas and should not tolerate physical intimidation.

“This brave student was engaging in exactly what campus life is supposed to encourage: a peaceful discussion,” Mersino said. “And he was attacked for it.”