Jan 7. 2026 | Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief
On Dec. 3, the last Wednesday of classes during Fall term, a small group of livestreaming right-wing protesters approached Western’s Werner University Center midday and stayed on campus until after sunset, posted in the same place outside of the WUC with cameras, harassing passersby with aggravated speech and curses.
Nearly immediately, Western students assembled in and outside of the WUC in efforts to counter-protest.
The protesters were inside and outside of the WUC, but were unable to access deeper into the building due to the turnout of counter-protesting students that blocked their way.
While walking onto campus, the livestreamer @Tommy4Trump420 on X, formerly known as Twitter, said, “I’m ready for a good day. Hopefully of conversation and not violence.”
@Tommy4Trump420, whose real name is Thomas Allen, 36, of Portland, has been caught on camera assaulting protesters outside of Portland’s ICE facility. He was arrested and booked into jail under fourth-degree assault and second-degree disorderly conduct charges in early October. At least one other time, Allen was taken into custody by Portland police on charges of disorderly conduct and assault. While outside of the ICE building, Allen reportedly had a can of chemical spray and a metal baton on his person during at least one instance when he was arrested, and allegedly has since been told to stay 200 feet from the facility by a judge.
Additionally, Allen received charges Dec. 2, the day prior to his Western stand-off with students, of criminal trespass in the second degree. While live at Western, he said, “The DA, they know my name, and they hate me. They hate what we’re doing.”
According to Western’s university conduct, the Discrimination and Harassment policy applies to visitors and persons or groups “participating in or accessing university programs, activities, or facilities.” Western’s Human Resources department has defined discrimination as “Conduct directed at an individual or group that 1) excludes or denies an individual from participating in or benefiting from a university” and harassment as “Conduct directed toward an individual or group on the basis of a protected characteristic that is sufficiently severe or pervasive that it (creates) a work, educational or living environment that a reasonable person would consider threatening, hostile, or abusive.”
Allen was seen inside of the WUC and roaming campus, creating substantial disruption that could qualify as grounds for physical removal from campus property. Allen, amongst a few companions, did not face university action.
His first attempts at conversation with a student who shrugged him off resulted in him calling her “a triggered Democrat” and “pathetic.”
Within forty minutes of his arrival, a crowd of students had begun to gather. With them, they brought music, pride flags and a vocal response.
“They’re barking like dogs, cause that’s all they are,” said Allen, after being met with hostility on campus. “Circus animals, that’s what you guys are.”
The main talking points of the non-student protesters included ICE, transgender issues, abortion and deportation.
“If it was any other college, you guys would have gotten rejected,” he said. “Yeah, you’re getting indoctrinated with liberal arts degrees that you’re never going to use in your f—cking lives,” he said, interrupted, however, by student cheers.
After a woman swiped at Allen to lower his face covering, the tension escalated and groups of students closed in on the livestreamer, both sides yelling and cursing.
Students chanted: “Take it off” referring to his mask; “F—k Donald Trump”; “We are Wolves” and “Go home, Nazi,” as examples, during the last of which Allen cheered.
“This is my campus. Whose campus? Tommy’s campus,” he retaliated.
“We don’t f—ing stand for that. People are people, every f—ing day of the week,” said one student to Allen. “F—k off, and get out of my f—ing town.”
That same protester has been known to attend college campuses across the state, mainly in Portland, for the same means of protesting and livestreaming. Allen, at one point, entered a confrontation with a Latino student, saying, “Go back to where you came from. Are you illegal? ICE will catch you.”
University president, Jesse Peters, emailed a statement to the campus population: “You may have heard about the masked protesters wearing MAGA hats who gathered in front of the (WUC) this afternoon, attempting to promote messages of divisiveness and hate. We understand that these messages can feel personal and triggering, and you may feel compelled to engage with them. It is important to remember that exercising your right to express yourself is protected by both the US and Oregon Constitutions for all parties involved.”
Peters went on to state, “I am proud of the way our students responded today and proud of the support for each other.”
The email encouraged students to remain “respectful and civil” and that “robust debate of ideas and support (for) each person’s right to share their opinions, whether others agree or disagree” is welcomed.
One student alleged they saw Allen “shove” a student, but couldn’t be sure because of the thickness of the crowd. Another student said online that he “pushed multiple people, called a Black woman ‘a monkey,’ pushed her, and then, you know what? Nothing really happened,” after he made continuous racist and transphobic remarks.
During the live video, Allen is heard calling the woman “you stupid a— monkey.” It is unclear whether or not she was pushed in the footage.
Campus Public Safety officers did not intervene during the high-tension moments or when contact was made between the livestreamer and counter-protesters, such as when Allen and a counter-protester fought over a pride flag that kept touching him or in the earlier noted instance when attempts were made to lower his face covering, but was present nearby the commotion.
Western went on to host multiple awareness events during finals week to discuss free speech, freedom of expression and protests.
“We are responsible for keeping our university safe from harassment, discrimination, and intimidation,” said the university.
Contact the author at howleditorinchief@wou.edu
