Gaines’s full testimony can be found HERE once the hearing begins.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Independent Women’s Forum (IWF) today announced Riley Gaines, Stand with Women spokeswoman at IWF and former 12-time All-American swimmer from the University of Kentucky, will provide testimony before the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. ET. In her testimony, Gaines will focus on her personal experience of courage in the face of radical mob threats and violence. An attack on Gaines following a campus speech at San Francisco State University (SFSU) gained national attention after she was ambushed, assaulted, and held hostage by a hostile crowd that took control of the building and overpowered the campus police.
The hearing, being held during National Police Week, entitled “‘Mostly Peaceful’: Countering Left-Wing Organized Violence,” will examine the dangers of mob intimidation and violence, the attack on free speech, and law enforcement preparedness to ensure safety and security amid these growing threats.
In her testimony, Gaines states, in part, “In those hours I was held against my will, the mob screamed vengeful, racist, violent things at both myself and the officers. I received no assurance that I would get out of that situation alive. When I needed consoling from the officers because I was so flustered and confused, they told me they could not provide me with that as it was too controversial.”
Gaines will provide testimony that describes, in detail, what happened at SFSU, as well as her journey from champion swimmer to now standing up for women’s rights and against the discrimination of women in single-sex spaces.
Areas of concern that Gaines will focus on in her testimony include:
- Threats to women’s rights and single-sex spaces;
- Efforts to dismantle Title IX;
- Vicious effort to silence women;
- Free speech under attack on college campuses;
- College administrators appearing to only be giving aid and comfort to those who are trying to silence conservative speech on campus; and
- Continued trauma from being threatened, intimidated, assaulted, and held hostage at SFSU.
“The left-wing lawlessness Americans experienced during the summer of 2020 was, unfortunately, only the beginning of a long season of political violence and intimidation. We’ve now seen this violence perpetrated against law enforcement as well as brave Americans, like Riley Gaines, who dare to exercise their freedom of speech. This increasing political violence cannot remain unchecked,” House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability Chairman Dan Bishop (R-NC) said. “Tomorrow, House Republicans will fight to ensure our local law enforcement finally receives the support they need to maintain law and order in the face of violent far-left extremism.”
Details:
WHAT: U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability hearing entitled, “’Mostly Peaceful’: Countering Left-Wing Organized Violence”
WHEN: Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. ET
WHERE: 310 Cannon House Office Building