Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk speaks at San Francisco State University
Conservative activists Charlie Kirk and Riley Gaines speak at SF State
Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk spoke to appreciative crowd at SF State on a number of topics. He was joined by Riley Gaines, who has also spoken out against transgender athletes in female sports.
SAN FRANCISCO - Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk on Tuesday spoke to an appreciative crowd Tuesday at San Francisco State University, touching on topics including illegal immigration, slavery, religion and transgender athletes.
‘A lot of fun today’
"You know how this works. You come up, you can disagree, front of the line, we're gonna have a lot of fun today, and maybe eventually we'll make San Francisco red!" Kirk said to cheers from red-leaning supporters on a decidedly blue campus.
This was part of Kirk's "American Comeback Tour" at colleges across the country. He's the founder of Turning Point USA, a national student movement.
He minced no words while taking questions on a variety of subjects, including illegal immigration.
"You broke the law, you cut in line. We love legal immigration, and illegal immigrants cut in line and they were not welcome, and they should go back to their country of origin," Kirk said.
Kirk, an unabashed Trump supporter, was joined by conservative activist Riley Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer who has also spoken out against transgender athletes in female sports.
"It's because I lived it," Gaines said. "I saw firsthand the harm that was being done to women by allowing men into our sports."
She added, "I can personally attest to the tears that I saw from girls who placed 9th and 17th and missed out on being named All-American by one place. I can wholeheartedly attest to the extreme discomfort in the locker room."
Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk speaking at San Francisco State University
Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk on Tuesday will be speaking at San Francisco State University.
Kirk supporters felt at ease
Campus and San Francisco police were a visible presence, separating opposing factions, but things remained peaceful, and supporters of Kirk felt at ease.
"I love what he's doing, you know, trying to spread the word, trying to straighten out the lines of Trump policies. I love it. I love what he's doing for his whole country," said Giovanni Pintor of Redwood City.
Kennedy Luty graduated from SF State last year and used to vote along Democratic lines.
"This is just what resonates with me, and I'm proud to be here," Luty said. "I've met with nothing but great people, very kind."
Protesters lined up outside the event to voice their opposition.
"I'm here to make sure they don't get the attention that they so desperately want. They don't deserve it," said student Benni Toe.
Kirk recently spoke with California Gov. Gavin Newsom on his podcast, where the two agreed that biological men should not play in women's sports.
Kirk is also the founder of Turning Point USA, a national student movement to empower "young people to promote the principles of free markets and limit markets," his website says.
Kirk was the youngest speaker at the 2016 Republican National Convention and the author of four books, including, "The MAGA Doctrine: The Only Ideas that Will Win the Future."
He also has a podcast, The Charlie Kirk Show, heard on 150 radio stations in the United States.
Henry Lee is a KTVU reporter. E-mail Henry at Henry.Lee@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @henrykleeKTVU and www.facebook.com/henrykleefan
The Source: Interviews, previous KTVU reporting
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