Buffalo, New York
Hundreds of people turned out to demonstrate against Michael Knowlesâ speaking engagement at the University of Buffalo (UB) on March 9, greatly outnumbering those who attended the event, which included some who went inside to disrupt it.

Credit: Buffalo WW bureau
Knowles, a right-wing pundit for the Daily Wire, made headlines after recently calling for the eradication of âtransgenderismâ at the Conservative Political Action Conference. He was invited to speak by the UB chapter of Young Americans for Freedom, a right-wing student organization, which has previously hosted Islamophobic demagogue Robert Spencer.
In response to the outrage surrounding the administrationâs allowing Knowles to speak at the university, UB President Satish Tripathi issued an open letter citing the importance of the âresponsibility to uphold free speech,â despite the âhateful and dehumanizing rhetoricâ which would be espoused.
Dr. Tripathi further claimed that âso long as a student group abides by university guidelines and state laws concerning public events on campus, we cannot disallow the student group from inviting the speaker of its choosing to campus.â The response was no doubt spurred by YAFâs long history of suing colleges for âfree speech violations,â when the bigoted group doesnât get its way.
Knowles weaseled his way around the fact that his comments on âeradicating transgenderismâ are a clear incitement to genocide. He claimed âno even mildly reasonable person could have interpreted my words as insinuating any sort of violenceâ â because he had identified an âideologyâ rather than a group of people. However, as noted by one of the speakers at the demonstration outside, you cannot âeradicate transgenderism from public lifeâ without eradicating transgender people.
The demonstration, jointly organized by Workers World Party, Buffalo; UB Young Democratic Socialists of America; DSA; Buffalo DSA; the Graduate Student Association of the UB School of Social Work; and No Hate at UB, drew support from both university students and members of the community. Speakers called for the maintenance of an atmosphere of inclusivity on campus at UB and in Buffalo at large and denounced Knowlesâ and YAFâs hateful rhetoric.
Demonstrators drew a large trans pride flag in chalk, with the slogan, âyou cannot eradicate us,â in front of the concert hall where the event was held. They loudly chanted âtransphobes are not welcome here!â and shouted âshame!â and âfascists go home!â at attendees as they entered and exited the event.
Less than a year ago, Payton S. Gendron came to Buffalo after posting a white-supremacist screed online, which denounced, among other things, âtransgenderism.â Gendron opened fire at a grocery store, killing 10 Black Buffalonians. People of this city, especially trans people and people of color, have reason to be alarmed by hatemongers like Knowles.
Amidst a rising tide of transphobia in the U.S., with a wave of anti-trans legislation by several states, ubiquitous anti-trans rhetoric from the right and threats, demonstrations and attacks against LGBTQ2S+ events around the country, we must remain vigilant and ready to show solidarity with our trans siblings â and defend them by any means necessary.
Source: Workers.org