Coconino News

Rep. Austin Smith has come to the defense of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) after video footage emerged showing a physical altercation involving an Arizona State University professor, a TPUSA reporter, and a TPUSA cameraman. Smith adamantly declared, "TPUSA did nothing wrong and you know it."

The video in question captures a TPUSA reporter, Kalen D’Almeida, attempting to engage in a discussion with Arizona State University Professor Danny Boyles. Boyles, who teaches English at the university and is a co-founder of Drag Story Hour Arizona, refused to answer questions about his involvement with the initiative, which features "drag queens" reading books to children in public settings, according to NBC News.

TPUSA posted on the X platform, stating, "Our TPUSA Frontlines reporter tried to ask self-professed 'sex education obsessed' queer ASU Professor David Boyles a few simple questions. Refusing to answer, our cameras caught the exact moment Mr. Boyles assaulted, pushed, and clawed at our cameraman. The reporter then attempted to remove Professor Boyles from our cameraman, which caused Mr. Boyles to fall and scrape his face on the ground."

In the video, Boyles can be seen growing increasingly agitated before lunging toward the camera, causing it to fall. The footage abruptly ends at this point. Boyles claimed that the men assaulted him, and the university's President, Michael Crow, released a statement supporting Boyles and condemning the actions of the individuals associated with TPUSA, as reported by NBC News.

Former Executive Director of The Lewis Center at Arizona State University, Ann Atkinson, criticized President Crow for defending Boyles despite evidence suggesting he initiated the physical confrontation. Atkinson stated on the X platform, "ASU President Crow was quick to issue a statement defending this professor, who clearly hit first. Physical violence is never ok. Death to Israel rallies on campus this week received no response from the administration."

Atkinson shared a screenshot from Boyles' class syllabus, revealing that the course includes texts covering topics such as sexual situations among teenagers, sexual violence, "transphobia," "gender dysphoria," and other "difficult topics."

Smith joined the conversation, sharing a news post by Laurie Roberts, a columnist for The Arizona Republic and AZ Central, who defended ASU and Professor Boyles. Smith responded to the post on the X platform, stating, "If you lunge at someone for asking questions and get pushed down, you’re not the victim." Smith further criticized the "dishonest reporting" from Roberts and accused the "Arizona higher Ed cartel and left-wing media" of rallying behind Boyles solely because he is gay, not because he is in the right.

As the incident continues to generate discussion and controversy, TPUSA remains steadfast in asserting its innocence, while critics argue that the university administration's response has been biased in favor of Boyles.