A University of Utah student was cited after allegedly attacking a College Republican during a confrontation that included a statement about shooting Republicans in the streets. The dispute began at a campus table where Republican students were inviting others to weigh in on gender. Police issued citations for simple assault and property damage after the encounter left the Republican student with a torn shirt.
The College Republicans had set up outside the university’s Marriott Library with a whiteboard asking students whether there are only two genders. Participants could mark yes or no beside the statement on the board. According to the university’s account, another student approached the display and erased writing with a hand before arguing with a Republican student about gender and free speech.
During the recorded exchange, the Republican student asked whether the group should have freedom of speech. “No, I think Republicans should be shot in the streets, personally,” the other student responded. Footage also showed the Republican student being tackled while calling for the aggressor to stop, and the organization subsequently shared a photograph showing his damaged shirt.
As Fox News reported, the university said the investigation remained ongoing. FOX 13 reported that officers responded to Marriott Plaza around 12:52 p.m. The incident occurred on October 27, 2026. The two citations were Class B misdemeanors. The available recordings show portions of the confrontation rather than the entire argument preceding the physical struggle.
The dispute also drew a response from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. Speaking to The College Fix, FIRE attorney Robert Shibley said physical attacks over someone’s speech receive no First Amendment protection. He said the video alone couldn’t establish whether the attacker intended to suppress speech or acted out of anger. Giving students a pass for violence over expression, he warned, allows those willing to hurt others to control which opinions can be expressed on campus.
The Utah Anti-War Committee identified the cited student as “Amber” Grace in an October 28th statement defending Grace and demanding intervention from Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill. The organization described Grace as a local anti-war activist and alleged that Republican students had followed and harassed Grace. It urged supporters to call and email Gill to demand that he refuse the charges, declaring, “Speaking out against transphobia is not a crime.”
Watch the recorded confrontation shared by College Republicans officer Rylie Barnes here:
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https://t.co/ivu9G2igfE
— Rylie (@Rylieparis05) October 28, 2026
Grace also sought dismissal of the citations in an interview with KUTV, accusing the university of enabling Republican students to bully others. Republican freshman Bryan Moore, who said he was nearby when the attack happened, rejected calls to discard the case. “Quite ridiculous,” Moore said. “I mean we saw this on video. There’s video proof.”
College Republicans have formally requested a meeting with University of Utah President Taylor Randall. The university told FOX 13 that it was working to arrange a meeting with campus safety leaders. Riley Beesley, chair of the Utah Federation of College Republicans, told the station, “Campus safety is my number one priority out here.” He added, “They’ve got to be able to protect students here.”
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video.