Two members of the right-wing organization Turning Point USA were caught on both cell phones and surveillance cameras harassing and confronting a LGBTQ+ Arizona Professor at the State University.
In footage posted online, a member of the conservative group is seen questioning Professor David Boyles about Drag Queen Story Hour – through which the professor helped establish a chapter in Arizona.
When asked by Turning Point about why Boyle created a local chapter of the controversial story hour, Boyle declined to answer questions.
“Let me ask you: when did you decide to become obsessed with sex education?” the reporter first asked.
Other questions were fired at 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 Boyle jumping towards the camera before being pushed from behind by the others.
Two members of Turning Point USA, one seen on the right, were captured on camera confronting an LGBTQ+ Arizona State University professor, David Boyes, left, on campus
Boyles, right, was asked repeatedly about his involvement in starting a local chapter of Drag Queen Story Hour in Arizona
ASU professor attacks TPUSA cameraman, caught on video
Our TPUSA Frontlines reporter tried to ask self-described “sex education-obsessed” queer ASU professor David Boyles a few simple questions. Our cameras refused to answer and captured the exact moment Mr. Boyles attacked,… pic.twitter.com/YJWBEzSgRx
— Turning Point USA (@TPUSA) October 13, 2023
ASU professor attacks TPUSA cameraman, caught on video ‘What are you going to tell me, nothing? What are you going to do?’ the Turning Point reporter asks, as Boyles remains silent.
“David, you can’t run. It would be best if you just talk to me about why you want to push sodomy on young people,” the reporter suggests.
Finally, Boyles snaps. Video footage shows him trying to grab the camera from one of his interrogators.
He is pushed backwards by the videographer and then pushed from behind by the questioner.
Boyle then appears to trip over the flowing white skirt he was wearing.
Surveillance footage from above, released by Arizona State University, also appears to show Boyles trying to grab his cell phone camera, causing him to be pushed before he falls face first to the ground.
Boyles later posted a photo of himself with blood streaming down the side of his face.
“One filmed on his phone while the other shouted horrible and inflammatory things at me, repeating standard 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 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 on the ground after being pushed
He said that while one person was filming the incident, the other was throwing derogatory and inflammatory comments at him.
‘Knowing they were filming to post this online and harass me further, I decided to block the camera. As I did so, the other jumped me from behind, causing me to land on the sidewalk and causing the injuries you see above,” Boyles explained.
My physical injuries are relatively minor and I am doing well. But I also feel angry, violated, ashamed and desperate that we have come to normalize this kind of harassment and violence against anyone who tries to support LGBTQ+ youth,” he added.
Police are now investigating the encounter as a possible case of aggravated assault with bias against LGBTQ+ people.
In a video that Turning Point shared with their 650,000 followers on
The people of Turning Point have not been named and no charges have been filed.
Turning Point is a nonprofit organization that advocates conservative views on campuses.
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 harmful actions.
“Boyles’ attack resulted in a disconnected wire that paused the video immediately after his initial lunge, but the video makes it clear that in a moment of anger, Mr. Boyles initiated a physical altercation and attacked our crew,” Turning Point USA wrote in a explanation of X.
“Our team fully intends to share this footage with local law enforcement, and if our camera operator decides to pursue criminal charges against Professor Boyle, we will fully support that decision.”
Boyles has been a writing instructor at the university since 2015 and specializes in “popular culture, digital literacy, visual rhetoric, and the rhetoric of higher education,” according to his university biography.
Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for Turning Point, alleged that Boyles initiated the physical contact by “lunging” at their cameraman.
‘A reporter from TPUSA Frontlines attempted to ask Professor Boyles about his ideas and published views on exposing minors to drag queens, his writings on sex with minors and ‘underground’ queer sex education – a subject he admits to being obsessed with is through.
‘While asking these questions, Professor Boyles unexpectedly lunged at our cameraman and attacked him. Our reporter tried to separate Mr. Boyle from our cameraman, causing Mr. Boyles to fall and graze his 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 a justification for attacking someone. The cameraman has since called ASUPD and will be filing charges.”
Boyles’ university representatives released a statement denouncing harassment and threatening behavior toward ASU employees.
