DENTON, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) – Denton Police said that a demonstrator protesting an event focused on discussing criminalizing healthcare for transgender children was admitted to a hospital after they were reportedly struck by a UNT Police vehicle on Mar. 2.
Students and other community members were demonstrating against an event organized by the UNT Young Conservatives of Texas featuring Jeff Younger, a Texas House candidate who will advance to the May 24 Republican primary runoff to replace Tan Parker in District 63.
Younger’s website lists one of his main campaign issues as his opposition to gender-affirming medical treatments for transgender minors, which he has characterized as “child abuse” and “mutilation.” Younger has also supported Governor Abbott’s order directing DFPS to investigate gender-affirming healthcare for minors as child abuse.
A UNT spokesperson said the university was aware of the contentious nature of the event, and that “UNT Police created a plan to ensure their ability to maintain a safe environment for our entire campus community, the student organizers, their guest, and event protestors, requesting advance assistance from both Denton Police and the Texas Department of Public Safety.”
The event itself was limited to just 80 people, but a “few hundred” protestors gathered outside the event to protest. The demonstrators were carrying signs and chanting, and the university described the protest as initially being “peaceful.”
According to the UNT spokesperson, a “small group” of protestors began to escalate the protest. It was not clear what relationship, if any, the demonstrators had with the university.
The spokesperson said that a group of protestors surrounded the vehicles and allegedly began banging on them and impeding their movement. The officer driving the vehicle turned on emergency lights and sirens while honking as they moved forward and other officers began pushing the demonstrators out of the way.
Video shows the moment a protestor was reportedly struck by a police vehicle at UNT. (credit: The_Flutternater/Twitch)
One of the demonstrators in front of the vehicle alleges he was hit by the vehicle and was later transported to a hospital, where he filed a report with Denton Police. Denton officers confirmed they took a protestor’s report from an area hospital, but said the case will be forwarded to another agency for investigation.
UNT said that they were not able to confirm any of the details of that report and noted that there were no “reported serious injuries.” The organizers and guests were escorted off-campus without further incident.
The UNT Police Department has not yet publicly commented on the case.
