Former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines refuses to allow a “terrifying” attack by pro-transgender protesters at San Francisco State University to “silence” her.
Gaines was attacked after giving a speech to SFSU’s chapter of Turning Point USA on Thursday, when transgender rights activists physically assaulted her while campus cops ineptly watched on.
The swimmer’s agent said that she was “hit multiple times by a guy in a dress” and barricaded into a classroom, while the mob screamed “Trans rights are human rights!”
Protesters raged for three-hours with no interference from college law enforcement, until SFPD arrived to escort her out of the room and off of campus.
“It was terrifying,” she told Fox News host Tucker Carlson. “The police did not inform me of any sort of action plan. Turning Point USA invited me to the campus.”
“I delivered a very civil and respectful speech where I had great dialog with even protesters who were participating in a sit-in.”
Gaines has reportedly been touring college campuses across the country to discuss her experience competing against former trans UPenn swimmer, Lia Thomas, at the Women’s NCAA Swimming Championships in 2022.
“All of a sudden, after my speech, the room was stormed, the lights were turned off, and I was rushed with no one there to escort me to a safe place,” she said about the scary ordeal.
She said that campus police were also verbally assaulted by protestors, but were afraid of doing their jobs because of public perception.
Gaines lauded the SFPD for the “phenomenal job” they did of rescuing her from the agitated protestors, when they escorted her to safety hours later.
No arrests have been made yet, but campus police said they were “conducting an ongoing investigation” into the “disruption.”
Gaines told Carlson that her attackers would “face repercussions” for their actions, which have her “worried” about her safety.
“I have to be now when we have people who are willing to do this,” she noted. “And we know why they’re willing to do this – it’s because they don’t have reason, they don’t have logic, they don’t have science, they don’t have common sense on their side. That’s on my side.”
The former NCAA athlete has been on a mission to educate her peers about what will happen to the integrity of Title IX, if biological males are allowed to participate in women’s sports.
Though she found the incident “terrifying” Gaines said that she wouldn’t let it stop her. “This does not deter me,” Gaines remarked.
“This assures me that I am doing the right thing,” she concluded. “This will not silence me. When they want me to be silenced, it just means I need to speak louder.”
Conservative actress Gina Carano, said that the attack on Gaines was “horrifying,” and noted that it’s “not transphobic to say that biological men” shouldn’t be competing in women’s sports.
“This is so disgustingly abusive and harmful and it is encouraging acts of violence against women,” the former Disney star wrote.
“These protestors cannot debate this with logic or words so they resort to bullying and violence. Cowards.”
Carano questioned why trans men didn’t have the same success in transferring into the male category as trans women do when they compete in women’s sports, if biological sex doesn’t matter.
“The knowledge that comes with training, the excitement of getting a college scholarship to go play for a team or go to the Olympics and compete on a fair stage, the ability to make money and support themselves, sponsorships, entire futures are built on women competing in sports,” she continued.
“Even if someone doesn’t end up becoming a professional, just playing for a team in high school can be life changing. Do not take that away from women.”
“Do not rob young girls and women of that experience and shaming them and now PHYSICALLY ASSAULTING them when they say this is not fair,” Carano pleaded.
Sirus XM podcast host Megyn Kelly blasted the “insane lunatics” who ambushed Gaines for “speaking up” about women’s rights on Friday.
“This is SICK and INFURIATING. They must be fought. They must be defeated,” she tweeted in reaction to a video of the swimmer being escorted down a hallway by police.
Gaines shared a video from her perspective on Friday, which showed the point that she was forced down a hallway and blocked in by screaming protestors.
“The prisoners are running the asylum at SFSU…I was ambushed and physically hit twice by a man. This is proof that women need sex-protected spaces,” she captioned.
“Still only further assures me I’m doing something right. When they want you silent, speak louder.”
Gaines also received support from Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and transgender Olympian Caitlyn Jenner.
“San Francisco State University and law enforcement must take immediate action to hold those who assaulted @Riley_Gaines_ accountable,” Blackburn tweeted.
“We will not allow the violent radical left mob to silence us.”
“Pray for Riley Gaines! You are a courageous voice of reason, an incredible athlete, and beyond brave,” Jenner posted on Friday.