Miles Guthrie, of Clairton, a transgender man, chants as he holds a sign while marching along O'Hara Street to the University of Pittsburgh's O'Hara Student Center to join hundreds of attendees protesting a debate called "Should Transgenderism Be Regulated by Law?" on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, in Oakland. The debate featured conservative political commentator Michael Knowles and libertarian journalist Brad Polumbo and was sponsored by Intercollegiate Studies Institute and hosted by Pitt College Republicans. (Alexandra Wimley/Union Progress)
The contested arrival of political commentator Michael Knowles to the University of Pittsburgh campus was met by more than 200 protesters filling the streets around the O’Hara Student Center with the sounds of drums beating and chants of “trans lives matter here” and “if we don’t get it, shut it down.”
Pitt’s College Republicans invited Knowles, who said at a Conservative Political Action Conference last month that “transgenderism must be eradicated from public life,” to debate libertarian journalist Brad Polumbo in the event titled “Should transgenderism be regulated by law?”
Protesters marched from the Soldiers & Sailors hall lawn to O’Hara Street to coincide with the scheduled start of the debate. Police escorted debate attendees through a metal barricade into the building.
Around 7:30 p.m., protesters moved to the side of the building along University Place. When police gathered to block the alley, a protester threw a device that emitted smoke. A loud bang echoed through the streets. An “incendiary device” had been thrown at officers, Pitt’s Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management tweeted.
University of Pittsburgh Police officers react after a protester threw a device emitting smoke at the group of officers gathered by an entrance to the O’Hara Student Center on University Place. (Photos by Alexandra Wimley/Union Progress)
Pitt police subsequently delivered an emergency notification. “As the situation evolved, several buildings were temporarily closed and visitors to residence halls restricted as a safety precaution,” Pitt police tweeted.
Protesters returned to O’Hara Street, and the demonstration continued peacefully until after 9:30 p.m., when police ordered people in the area to disperse or else be arrested.
Protesters hold signs and flags as they gather at the intersection of O’Hara Street and University Place.Police officers stand in a line in front of the O’Hara Student Center as a member of Pitt’s College Republicans, one of the event organizers, films protesters outside of the event.Protesters chant during the demonstration outside of the O’Hara Student Center on University Place.Onlookers watch and take photos and video as protesters rally in front of the O’Hara Student Center.Pitt police officers escort debate attendees into the O’Hara Student Center.Participants watch as a figure with a printed photo of conservative commentator and debate participant Michael Knowles’ face burns after being lit on fire with a flare by a protester.A printed photo of conservative commentator and debate participant Michael Knowles’ face burns after being lit on fire with a flare by a protester.A protester stands in front of a line of Pittsburgh police officers as they stand guard outside of the University Place side of the O’Hara Student Center.A demonstrator waves a transgender pride flag while police stand in a line outside of the O’Hara Student Center on O’Hara Street.Hundreds of protesters gather in front of the O’Hara Student Center as police guard the entrance.University police officers react after protesters threw a smoke bomb and attempted to move the metal barricades outside of the O’Hara Student Center.People wait to enter the debate as a device thrown by a protester emits smoke.A University of Pittsburgh Police officer gestures for protesters to back up after a participant threw a smoke bomb and people attempted to move the metal barricades outside of the O’Hara Student Center. Pittsburgh police officers arrest two protesters on Bigelow Boulevard after they briefly pursued them on foot from the scene of the protest on O’Hara Street.Pittsburgh police officers follow the movement of protesters from University Place to O’Hara Street.Demonstrators hold pride flags as they march in front of the O’Hara Student Center on O’Hara Street.The remaining protesters leave the area in front of the O’Hara Student Center on O’Hara Street after police announced that they would start making arrests if demonstrators did not disperse.
