Two members of the right-wing organization Turning Point USA were filmed on cellphones and surveillance cameras harassing them and being confronted with LGBTQ+ Arizona Professor at the State University.
In footage posted online, a member of the conservative group can be seen questioning professor David Boyles about Drag Queen Story Hour – of which the professor helped create a chapter in Arizona.
When asked for Turning Point’s reasoning for Boyle’s creation of a local chapter of the controversial storytelling hour, Boyle refused to answer questions.
“Let me ask you, when did you decide to become obsessed with sex education? » first asked the journalist.
Other questions were asked of Boyles, including: “How long have you been attracted to minors?” » and “How long have you fantasized about minors having sex with adults?” »
Video footage showed Boyles lunging towards the camera, while he was then pushed from behind by the others.
Two members of Turning Point USA, one of whom is seen at right, were caught on camera confronting an LGBTQ+ professor at Arizona State University, David Boyes, left, on campus.
Boyles, right, was asked several times about his involvement in creating a local chapter of Drag Queen Story Hour in Arizona.
“What are you going to tell me, nothing?” What are you going to do?’ » asks the Turning Point reporter, while Boyles remains silent.
“David, you can’t run. It would be better if you told me about the reasons why you want to impose sodomy on young people,” the journalist suggests.
Finally, Boyles snaps. Video footage then shows him trying to grab the camera from one of his interrogators.
But in doing so, he is pushed back by the videographer, then shoved from behind by the activist who asks the questions.
Boyle then appears to trip over the flowing white skirt he was wearing.
Security footage from above, released by Arizona State University, also appears to show Boyles attempting to reach for the cellphone camera, leading him to be pushed before falling face-first to the ground.
Boyles later posted a photo of himself with blood running down the side of his face.
“One filmed on his phone while the other shouted horrible and inflammatory things at me, repeating classic right-wing nonsense about Drag Story Hour and also personally accusing me of pedophilia and hating America” , Boyles wrote online.
Boyles appeared to reach for the camera but was then pushed from behind and tripped.
Surveillance video seen from above shows Boyles reaching out to grab the cameraman’s phone.
The reporter can then be seen pushing Boyles from behind, causing him to trip and fall.
Boyles can then be seen lying on the ground after being shoved and
He said that while one person was filming the incident, the other was making derogatory and inflammatory remarks at him.
“Knowing that they were filming in order to post this online and inspire further harassment against me, I decided to block the camera. When I did, the other one jumped me from behind, knocking me to the sidewalk and causing the injuries you see above,” Boyles said.
My physical injuries are relatively minor and I am fine. But I also feel angry, violated, embarrassed and hopeless that we have come to normalize this type of harassment and violence against anyone who tries to support LGBTQ+ youth,” he added.
Police are now investigating this encounter as a possible case of biased aggravated assault against LGBTQ+ people.
In a video shared by Turning Point to its 650,000 followers on
Boyles later posted a photo of himself with blood on one side of his face.
The interviewee also accused Boyles of harboring anti-American sentiments and promoting nefarious actions. The video finally ends with a brief physical altercation.
“Boyles’ assault resulted in a disconnected wire that caused the video to cut off immediately after its first crack, but the video clearly shows that Mr. Boyles, in a moment of rage, initiated a physical altercation and attacked our crew,” Turning Point USA wrote in an explanation on X.
“Our team fully intends to share this footage with local law enforcement, and if our cameraman decides to file criminal charges against Professor Boyle, we will fully support that decision.”
Boyles has been a professor of writing at the university since 2015 and specializes in “popular culture, digital literacy, visual rhetoric, and the rhetoric of higher education,” according to his academic biography.
Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for Turning Point, claimed that Boyles initiated the physical contact by “lunging” at their cameraman.
“A TPUSA Frontlines reporter attempted to question Professor Boyles about his published ideas and beliefs on minors’ exposure to drag queens, his writings on underage sex, and queer “underground” sex education – a topic who obsesses him.
“While asking these questions, Professor Boyles unexpectedly lunged at our cameraman and assaulted him. Our reporter attempted to separate Mr. Boyle from our cameraman, causing Mr. Boyles to fall and scratch face. But the video evidence is clear: Professor Boyles started a physical altercation because he didn’t like the questions.
“Disliking a question is not justification for attacking someone. The cameraman has since called ASUPD and will file a complaint.
Police are currently in the process of identifying the crew members involved.
Boyles University officials released a statement denouncing harassment and threatening behavior toward ASU employees.
Phoenix-based Turning Point USA has gained prominence in conservative circles, growing from a campus-focused organization to a nationally recognized entity alongside its founder, Charlie Kirk.
