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A Sacramento woman faces a charge of conspiracy to commit a riot months after a Turning Point USA event at UC Davis.
DAVIS, Calif. — A Sacramento woman is being charged with conspiracy to commit a riot months after a Turning Point USA event at UC Davis.
The incident happened on April 3. In the initial news release, the university said Turning Point USA at UC Davis invited Brandon Tatum to speak on the quad.
About an hour before the event was set to take place, the university said a group of about 30 demonstrators approached a tent and table staffed by those supporting the event. Officials said a demonstrator hit an observer who approached the group with a camera phone, and other demonstrators pulled the tent down and “engaged in shoving with those staffing the tent and others nearby.”
Eventually, the demonstrators left but returned a few minutes later and tried to remove a tent that was set up on the quad, according to the university.
No arrest was made at the time, but UC Davis police did take one report of an assault. Officials said no one requested medical aid, and the event took place as scheduled.
In a news release following the incident, Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig called the incident “outrageous” and “clearly criminal.”
RELATED: ‘Outrageous and clearly criminal’: Yolo County DA slams actions of protestors before UC Davis event
Months later on Nov. 13, the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office filed charges against 22-year-old Joanna Sodke. The DA’s Office charged her with one count of conspiracy to commit a riot and one count of battery.
Sodke will be arraigned Friday at Yolo County Superior Court.
ABC10 reached out to Turning Point USA for comment but the inquiry was not returned by time of publication. ABC10 also reached out to UC Davis for an updated comment, but the inquiry was not immediately returned.
In UC Davis’ initial news release, they said they condemn all forms of violence and support the right of students to invite speakers to the campus and to peacefully protest. They added that those “engaged in speech activity must comply with federal and state laws and campus policies protecting lawful access to university programs and facilities.”
UC Davis Chancellor Gary May also condemned the violence in an April statement, calling it “disappointing” and “embarrassing.” He reiterated that there is “zero tolerance for violence on our campuses.”
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