BUZZ
ANALYSIS: Student paper feels it worthy to note counter-protesters called them ‘smelly’ with one making a ‘transphobic’ comment
As might be expected, on the third anniversary of Hamas’ brutal assault against Israel the UC Davis “Marxist-Leninist-Maoist” student group Revolutionary Student Organization gathered to “recognize the ongoing genocide in Palestine.”
According to student paper California Aggie, however, the “primary function” of the demonstration was to commemorate the October 2023 Hamas attack as a “struggle of Palestinians fighting Israeli forces” (emphasis added).
Protest signs seen included “Intifada Revolution,” “We have nothing to lose but our chains,” and “Victory to the resistance of the Venezuelan people ¡Yanqui Fuera!” along with protester chants of “There is only one solution, Intifada revolution” and “Palestine/Hamas/Lebanon we love you, we support your rockets too.”
Activists also praised the so-called “Axis Resistance,” a “loose, Iran-backed coalition of state and near-state powers who target Israeli, Saudi, American and allied interests in West and Central Asia.”
A post on the RSO’s Instagram account states “We recognize October 7th as a marker in the recent worldwide anti-imperialist struggle, and we must answer the call to honor the resistance and struggle against Yankee and Zionist aggression.”
Another RSO post offered tips “security tips for protests” which include “wear face and hair coverings like masks, sunglasses [and] hoodies,” as well as “cover anything identifiable like piercing or tattoos.”
Yet another gives thanks to all who participated, noting “despite repression from administration, police, zionists, and opportunists, we remained principled in our ability to carry out our rally and speeches!”
The mere presence of police, according to the statement, was “agitative.”
The noted “opportunists” appear to be counter-protesters whom the Aggie notes called the RSO activists “smelly” and “made a series of noises in an attempt to disrupt the protest.”
They also chided protesters for hiding behind face coverings, with one attempting (unsuccessfully) to “wrangle a sign” from an activist.
One counter-protester was former UC Davis employee Beth Bourne who, the student paper says, made “transphobic statements while recording video footage on her phone.”
For her stance against transgender ideology, Bourne has been subjected to at least two alleged death threats: One from UC Davis English Professor Seeta Chaganti (who told Bourne “put a gun in your mouth you piece of shit!”) and the other from UC San Francisco employee Madeline Mann who Bourne claimed told her “I’m gonna hunt you down and fucking kill you.”
MORE: UC Davis festival apologizes for drum circle: ‘cultural appropriation’
MORE: UC Davis workshop to address ‘mobility justice’ and ‘bicycle equity‘
