A masked agitator attacked conservative commentator Michael Knowles with an unknown substance while he was speaking at the University of Missouri-KC., Thursday night. The event was called “A Night with Michael Knowles,” and was hosted by Young Americans for Freedom. Knowles writes for The Daily Wire and is a frequent guest on Fox and Friends.
Protesters had originally planned on staging “a silent walk out” while Knowles was giving a speech titled “Men are Not Women,” University News, UMKC’s student newspaper, reported.
Protesters outside the event held signs reading “Trans Men are Men,” “Trans Rights are Human Rights,” and “Knowles’ Ideology Kills Trans Women.”
One arrested after protest at on-campus event https://t.co/EOjN4Febi0 pic.twitter.com/Gb6WUk4Kr6
— UMKC Roo News (@RooNewsUMKC) April 12, 2019
Protesters planned to attend the school’s “Inclusion Spring Bash” later that night, according to University News. The “silent” protest inside the event turned disruptive, however, resulting in one person being injured, UMKC stated on Twitter. The masked protester was taken down by police and arrested after he tried to squirt Knowles with some type of liquid.
Protesters disrupted a lecture on the UMKC campus this evening that was sponsored by a student group. The protest turned disruptive and after several warnings, the disruption persisted, and one protester was arrested. (1 of 2)
— UMKC (@UMKC) April 12, 2019
The university said it was gathering more information and would review campus policies and procedures.
We have a responsibility to allow free speech, but we cannot condone physical disruptions of peaceful activities. We believe free speech can be exercised constructively in a way that doesn’t put people at risk. We are gathering facts and will review campus policies & procedures.
— UMKC (@UMKC) April 12, 2019
While the attacker was being tackled and tasered by police, protesters in the audience chanted “hands up, don’t shoot!”
BREAKING VIDEO: One person injured following protest at event hosted by conservative group Young Americans for Freedom. According to guest speaker Michael Knowles, a student threw bleach at him and was arrested. pic.twitter.com/nBC2B25dXz
— UMKC Roo News (@RooNewsUMKC) April 12, 2019
After he was attacked, Knowles initially thought that the agitator had squirted paint at him. In the video below, he can be heard thanking the police for their quick actions. “I appreciate that immensely,” he said.
Later, Knowles tweeted that the substance was bleach. Eventually, after speaking with police, he clarified that it was an odorous liquid designed to smell like bleach.
A student tried to squirt bleach on me during my speech tonight. Lucky for me we was a left-winger and couldn’t even shoot a squirt gun! pic.twitter.com/VHKS4hD4vW
— Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) April 12, 2019
UPDATE: authorities now telling me it was not bleach — unknown odorous liquid, appears the attacker was a hoaxer who was fine getting charged with assault but wanted to avoid a felony
— Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) April 12, 2019