Salt Lake City, UT – On November 4, dozens of LGBTQ students, youth and community allies gathered on the steps of the University of Utah’s President’s Circle to demand “Transphobes off campus.” The rally was called after Amber Grace, a U of U student and local anti-war activist, was followed and transphobically harassed by the U of U College Republicans.
The protest was the first political rally on the U’s campus in over a year. The College Republicans attempted to intimidate the protesters through heckles and invasive filming. The crowd shouted these agitators into silence with chants of “Hey hey, ho ho, transphobes have got to go!” Protesters held a banner reading “Protect queer youth, not bigots” and signs reading “We are a priority, not a minority!”
U of U College Republicans conduct transphobic and anti-immigrant outreach on the U’s Marriott Plaza, where students must walk to go to class. After filming the angry reactions of people who are angered by hate speech; they gain social media likes from right-wingers.
After being followed and filmed by one such transphobic U of U College Republican tabler, Grace was assaulted. Her glasses were punched off her face. Despite being the victim of a hate crime, Grace faces a trumped-up misdemeanor citation for assault. Protesters held signs reading “Drop the charges on Amber!”
U of U College Republican leaders Rylie Barnes, Riley Beesley and Daylan Alzamora took to social media to deadname and attempt to intimidate Grace. They then handed footage over to right-wing outlets like Fox News, leading to death threats against Grace.
“We have seen the University of Utah enable the reckless, harmful and discriminatory actions of the College Republicans, who are given free rein to harass marginalized students on their way to class,” said Grace.
“Last Tuesday, I should have also made it to class, and I should have not been on Fox News and other far-right outlets. Because I was followed, because I was recorded without my consent, and because I had transphobic language hurled at me, the situation turned into a hate crime against me.”
Organizers distributed a call urging people to contact Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill to drop the charges on Amber Grace ahead of her first court appearance.
At the rally there were U of U College Republican hecklers and a heavy-handed University of Utah Police presence. At the University of Utah, transphobes are emboldened by the police and campus administration, but LGBTQ youth and students are strong and brave. They are ready to organize for LGBTQ liberation.
The rally was organized by the Utah Anti-War Committee and Freedom Road Socialist Organization.
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