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Drummer arrested during Turning Point USA event on UW campus
University of Washington police arrested a counter protestor who was drumming at a Turning Point USA event on campus.
SEATTLE - A large crowd gathered Wednesday morning outside the University of Washington’s student union as a Turning Point USA returned to campus, drawing both supporters and counterprotesters.
Students described a scene that escalated quickly, half an hour before the event even got started.
"We were walking past the HUB and then we saw a pretty big commotion outside," said UW sophomore Krishna Banda.
As the crowd grew from dozens to well over a hundred people, counterprotesters arrived, chanting and using drums in an effort to drown out the speaker inside the event tent.
UW sophomore Robert Ren said curiosity drew him in. He noted the visible law enforcement presence. More than a dozen University of Washington Police and private security officers were standing by.
Organizers with Turning Point USA held signs highlighting controversial topics to spark debate, such as immigration enforcement.
According to a UW spokesperson, university police arrested a counterprotester who was drumming during the event after giving him multiple warnings to stop. When he refused to comply, officers took action, the spokesperson said.
Inside the tent, the source of the commotion, Nick Freitas, an American politician and influencer affiliated with Turning Point USA, addressed attendees as the noise from outside continued.
Nick Freitas speaks during Turning Point USA's event on the UW campus. (FOX 13 Seattle)
Not everyone in attendance was a UW student. Some people said they traveled from surrounding communities, including Bonney Lake and Mill Creek, to be there.
Turning Point USA organizers refused to answer any questions for FOX 13 about the event.
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The Source: Information in this story came from the University of Washington and original FOX 13 Seattle reporting and interviews.