PITTSBURGH — Activists at the University of Pittsburgh protested outside a Turning Point USA event to demand \u201ctrans-inclusive healthcare and housing\u201d among other requests. Several activists also tried to enter the event but was turned away for not following the ticketing procedures.<\/p>\n
Trans Action Building PGH convened on campus an hour before Turning Point USA was scheduled to host Brandon Tatum, a former police officer and co-founder of the Blexit movement. \u201cBlexit\u201d refers to \u201cblack exit,\u201d or the idea that black Americans should leave the Democratic Party. Blexit is now part of TPUSA.<\/p>\n
Tatum\u2019s Oct. 26 event, \u201cCall Me American,\u201d focused on his experiences as a police officer, as well as his story on leaving the Democratic Party and becoming a conservative commentator.<\/p>\n
Pro-trans protestors previously created protest flyers that accused Tatum of being a \u201cbootlicker\u201d and a \u201chack,\u201d as previously reported<\/a> by The College Fix<\/em>.<\/p>\n A separate social media post further accused Tatum of \u201cbelittl[ing] trans and [non-binary] people and hits them when they are down.\u201d<\/p>\n Protestors demanded \u201cthree fully-staffed in-person resource centers,\u201d \u201ctrans-inclusive healthcare and housing,\u201d and for Pitt to \u201cend union busting and provide a minimum wage of $20\/hour\u201d for student workers and faculty members. The group wants<\/a> a new center for individuals with disabilities, one for LGBT students, and one for racial minorities.<\/p>\n The Fix<\/em> reached out to the Trans Action Build PGH via its social media page in request of more information about their demands but did not hear back.<\/p>\n Protestors dressed in all black started chanting \u201can injury to one, an injury to all.\u201d Other chants included, \u201cHey hey, ho ho, transphobes have got to go.\u201d<\/p>\n After listing these demands, the protestors shifted their focus to The Fix<\/em> reporter present at the event. The majority of protestors knew the reporter\u2019s first and last name, as well as the restaurant he used to work at.<\/p>\n \u201cGet a real job,\u201d protestor Farah Mili shouted at The Fix<\/em>. Another protestor yelled, \u201cF*cking loser.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the event\u2019s safety marshals also followed The Fix<\/em> around on her bicycle while flashing bright lights into the camera.<\/p>\n The bicycle-riding protestor accused The Fix<\/em> of \u201cattempting to zoom in on people\u2019s faces for identification later.\u201d<\/p>\n