Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines took issue with the response from a university following a protest during one of her events.
Gaines has become known for speaking out against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas for participating in events for females.
Over the weekend, Gaines posted a message on Twitter after San Francisco State University’s Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Jamillah Moore sent an email to the college commenting on the event.
“Thank you to our students who participated peacefully in Thursday evening’s event. It took tremendous bravery to stand in a challenging space. I am proud of the moments where we listened and asked insightful questions,” Moore wrote.
She added, “I am also proud of the moments when our students demonstrated the value of free speech and the right to protest peacefully. These issues do not go away, and these values are very much at our core.”
In response, Gaines tweeted, “I’m sorry did this just say PEACEFUL…. I was assaulted. I was extorted and held for random. (sic) The protestors demanded I pay them if I wanted to make it home safely. I missed my flight home because I was barricaded in a classroom…”
She continued, “We must have different definitions of peaceful.”
I'm sorry did this just say PEACEFUL…. I was assaulted. I was extorted and held for random. The protestors demanded I pay them if I wanted to make it home safely. I missed my flight home because I was barricaded in a classroom…
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) April 9, 2023
We must have different definitions of peaceful. https://t.co/izxoCF1IFs
Gaines also said she has “no problem with ‘peaceful’ protest. I actually welcome it. I was grateful to see a diverse crowd in the room during my speech which I expressed multiple times. We had great dialogue and listened to each other. But that ambush was the opposite of peaceful.”
I have no problem with "peaceful" protest. I actually welcome it. I was grateful to see a diverse crowd in the room during my speech which I expressed multiple times. We had great dialogue and listened to each other. But that ambush was the opposite of peaceful
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) April 9, 2023
According to Gaines, her account was blocked by Moore.
“I guess it’s easier for her to ignore me than to denounce violence against women. She won’t be able to ignore my lawsuit,” Gaines wrote.
The woman who released the statement following the riot where I was verbally and physically assaulted at @SFSU (to which she called peaceful) blocked me.
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) April 9, 2023
I guess it's easier for her to ignore me than to denounce violence against women. She won't be able to ignore my lawsuit🤗 pic.twitter.com/4RHsYsTNCw
The response comes after Gaines was ushered out of the event at the university, as IJR reported.
“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,” Gaines tweeted.
She added, “Still only further assures me I’m doing something right. When they want you silent, speak louder.”
In case you missed it:
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.
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) April 7, 2023
Still only further assures me I'm doing something right. When they want you silent, speak louder. 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/uJW3x9RERf
The swimmer’s agent, Eli Bremer, told Fox News in a statement the university should expel “any students who were violent,” and fire any staff member “who did not attempt to end the assault.”
