MAGA Influencer Says Trans Activist Threw Liquid at Him
A conservative social media influencer was attacked with liquid at UC Santa Cruz, his second assault in California within weeks, following a violent West Hollywood confrontation.
Ryley Niemi and the “Off The Record USA” show were filming at the University of California Santa Cruz campus when a person dressed in black approached and hurled a bucket of unidentified liquid at him, according to New York Post. Video footage posted to Instagram shows the assailant running away immediately after the incident.
The attack drew applause and cheering from bystanders, with at least one person shouting profanities and demanding Niemi leave the campus. The influencer attempted to chase down the suspect but was unsuccessful.
Second Attack in Recent Weeks
The campus incident follows a violent confrontation last month in West Hollywood that turned physical after Niemi questioned a gay couple about adoption rights. During that exchange, Niemi made provocative statements about adoption costs and child safety statistics, as New York Post reports.
Video from the West Hollywood encounter showed one of the men charging at Niemi and striking him multiple times on the back of the head before pushing him into the camera equipment.
Legal Action and Fundraising Campaign
Niemi has launched a GoFundMe campaign in response to the attacks. The fundraising page states that more than a dozen emergency responders arrived at the scene of the West Hollywood assault and that legal action is being pursued through proper channels.
David Vullin, one of the men involved in the West Hollywood incident, was arrested and charged with felony vandalism causing damage valued at four hundred dollars or more, according to booking records from the West Hollywood Sheriff station.
Accusations of Exploitation
David and Anthony Vullin have accused Niemi and his program of deliberately targeting their community to provoke reactions for viral content. David Vullin told CNN that intentionally triggering specific communities goes beyond free expression and constitutes exploitation.
The University of California Santa Cruz has not yet commented on the campus incident.
With information from New York Post
