UB Medical School club organized ‘Joyous Rebellion Dance Party’ to support trans community members in wake of Michael Knowles’ on-campus speech

OUTpatient, a LGBTQ club from UB’s Jacobs’ School of Medicine, organized a different kind of protest to Michael Knowles’ on-campus speech. Proud to see how quickly undergraduates organized their large protest outside Slee Hall, the medical students wanted to give students another option.

Their way to do that: a dance party in the Student Union.

Excitement was bubbling at the SU Thursday in preparation for OUTpatient’s LGBTQIA+ Dance Party, promoted by UB undergraduate LGBTQ clubs. The event featured DJ Billie Page and attracted the attendance of former Buffalo mayoral candidate India Walton.

Kathryn Hobika, a member of OUTpatient and planner of the event, said that the committee settled on “having a day where we celebrate” to bring a different energy to the day.

“It was pretty clear immediately that the undergrads have been struggling with this for longer than we have, they have to deal with this hate group on a daily basis,” Hobika said.

The dance party was organized in response to conservative political commentator Michael Knowles’ speech on campus, which was titled “How Radical Feminism Destroys Women (And Everything Else).” Knowles’ appearance was endorsed by UB’s chapter of Young Americans for Freedom (YAF).

Hobika said that OUTpatient’s plan was to follow the lead of undergraduate LGBTQ organizations because students at the medical school never have to interact with YAF.

One of the main promoters of the event, Our City Action Buffalo (OCAB), was tabling in the Student Union lobby for eight hours leading up to the event. Alongside their table were other undergraduate LGBTQ clubs such as PRISM, all handing out pride flags and stickers to anyone who wanted them.

“YAF receives more than triple the amount that LGBTQ organizations receive right now. (That ain’t right!),” the caption under the poster for the event on the OCAB instagram account read.

OCAB representatives said their preparation for the event included hiring undercover security to keep “an eye out for any potential threats.”

The event was fed by a slow trickle of protesters as Knowles began his speech. As the lights went down in the Student Union and the floor shook with the bass of Nicki Minaj’s “Starships,” students spoke to The Spectrum about the importance of creating community in a time of campus-wide unrest.

“This event is all about positivity and inclusivity. Anyone can be here and they want to dance most alive. It’s about bringing people together and having unity,” Elana Cunningham, a senior English major attending the event, said. “Meanwhile, that event [Michael Knowles’ speech] is about segregating the nation basically, I wouldn’t want to be a part of something like that.”

Chloe Cottone, a member of the OUTpatient planning committee, called the turnout “decent,” and just about what they were expecting. Cottone said she had a good time dancing all night.

A poster for the event had a Cash App QR code and a Venmo username to collect donations for undergraduate LGBTQ organizations for those who could not come to show their support.

OCAB urged its Instagram followers to “please stay safe.”

Email: news@ubspectrum.com

Protester arrested by UPD outside Michael Knowles’ speech, charged with multiple offenses

The 25-year-old demonstrator was released with an appearance ticket

University Police took a 25-year-old into custody Thursday night outside of Slee Hall, where hundreds were protesting conservative commentator Michael Knowles’ on-campus speech.

The protester, who is not affiliated with UB, was charged with harassment, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, according to university spokesperson John Della Contrada. The offender has been released with an appearance ticket.

A University Police officer was seen carrying the individual — who told onlookers their name was “Arise” — out of the crowd of protesters gathered around Slee Hall at around 6:45 p.m. The demonstrator asked the officer if they were under arrest; the officer initially said they were not.

The officer, flanked by three other law enforcement officials, put the individual down outside of Coventry Loop. The demonstrator then said they were “going back in” before trying to run around the officer.

At that point, the four officers grabbed the protester, pushed them against a nearby parked car, put them in handcuffs and placed them under arrest.

Two officers carried the demonstrator, their feet dragging on the asphalt, to the backseat of a police car.

A Spectrum editor at the scene observed the protester trying to climb a metal security barrier before their arrest.

UPD escorted two audience members out of Knowles’ speech in Slee Hall for “continuing to disrupt the speaker,” according to a UB statement.

The police officers who made the arrest declined to comment.

The protestor could not immediately be reached for comment.