TPUSA students warn campus hostility toward conservatives is growing after Texas university attack
Turning Point USA (TPUSA) members involved in a violent confrontation at the University of Texas at Tyler say growing hostility toward conservative voices on college campuses is threatening open dialogue.
Key points
- Jenson, who appeared alongside fellow TPUSA member Davis Thrower, said the suspect, identified as Ciro Tomlian, 19, a former UT Tyler student, repeatedly approached their display, insulting the group before the confrontation turned physical.
- University of Texas at Tyler police arrested Tomlian following the incident.
- UTAH STUDENT CITED AFTER PHYSICAL ALTERCATION WITH COLLEGE REPUBLICAN CAUGHT ON CAMERA "I also believe that we have a major health crisis, mental health crisis within our nation that is not properly addressed," Thrower added.
"The fact that we're there for open conversation on campus, it's sad that that's something that would make him be so aggressive towards us," TPUSA field representative Janae Jenson told "Fox & Friends" on Thursday.
Additional details
- Asked about the Gallup findings, Thrower said some people fail to understand that physically hurting others because of political disagreements is unacceptable.
- A Gallup survey published in December 2025 found that 30% of adults ages 18 to 29 said it is sometimes acceptable to use violence to achieve a political goal.
- TPUSA members can be heard urging him to stop and warning that police were nearby.
- "Our students face threats of violence and mean words all the time on the daily.
- Video shows Tomlian wearing a cape and a round-brimmed hat as he throws an American flag on the ground and swings a cane at a group of people.
How this summary was made: extractive summary — built from the sources' own reporting. It is drawn only from the reporting of the sources listed below — read the originals for full detail. How we summarize →
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