Riley Gaines advocates for fairness in women’s sports at a California university as protestors outside turn to vandalism

Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines was met with protest during her pro-women speech at a California college Friday.

Around 150 people showed up at UC Davis Conference Center to hear Gaines advocate against biological men competing in women’s sports, according to ABC10.

The event reportedly started on time and remained peaceful inside.

But outside the event, protestors vandalized parts of the school, smashing a glass in a window and doors and spray painting “die transphobes” on a university building, according to UC Davis.

The school also reported around 100 protestors were gathered outside of the event, along with a small group of counter-protesters.

Despite the violent protest, Gaines said she’s not afraid to speak out for women.

“No, I’m not scared,” Gaines said during an interview with CBS. “This is not about banning anyone from competition. Everyone should compete, but you compete where it’s fair and where it’s safe. I’m not scared to say something as simple and as basic and as common sense as men are men, women are women.”

In the weeks leading up to the event, flyers circulated social media labeling Gaines a “notorious transphobic speaker.”

“It just cracks me up. To anyone who calls me a ‘transphobe’ – that word has literally no weight, no meaning, when you throw it around for my message here,” Gaines said, according to Fresno Bee. “There’s man, there’s woman; you can’t change your sex. If that makes me a transphobe, so be it.” 

No arrests were made during the protest despite reports of two assaults occurring, according to UC Davis. Police have filed reports over the vandalism that occurred.  

Gaines is no stranger to protests, especially in California. 

During a speech at San Francisco University in April, protestors physically assaulted and chased Gaines down a hallway as campus police ushered her into a secure room. Gaines remained locked in the room for several hours, until it was safe to leave the event, according to CNN.  

Last month, during Gaine’s speech at Harvard University, students organized a “trans party” in protest, according to Fox News. Leading up to the event, ticketing company Eventbrite deleted the listing for the event, preventing interested participants from signing up. 

Despite the resistance, Gaines said she won’t give up.  

“This does not deter me,” Gaines told Fox News. “This assures me that I am doing the right thing. This will not silence me. When they want me to be silenced it just means I need to speak louder.”