A Sunday afternoon meeting, described as a “tribunal,” revealed a chilling strategy unfolding within a Berkeley, California classroom. Yvette Felarca, a local teacher and prominent figure among activist groups, led a gathering of approximately 40 members of By Any Means Necessary (BAMN) in a post-event analysis of a recent, violent confrontation with supporters of Turning Point USA at UC Berkeley.
The atmosphere was charged with a sense of triumph. Felarca, previously arrested for inciting a riot, initiated a vote to expand their operations – to actively “stop” Turning Point USA, not just on college campuses, but within public K-12 schools, starting with Berkeley High School, where she teaches. The motion passed unanimously, fueled by a determination to halt what they termed “fascist recruiting.”
BAMN’s efforts are supported by a Detroit-based nonprofit, the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration and Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality, which allows the group to receive tax-deductible donations. The meeting concluded with a single, resolute word echoing through the room: “Solidarity!”
This year has witnessed a disturbing trend: the increasingly broad and weaponized use of the term “fascist” by some activists to delegitimize political opponents and justify actions that threaten constitutional rights. The chilling implications of this rhetoric were starkly illustrated by a recent incident where the word was found scrawled on a bullet casing linked to the arrest of a man connected to the founder of Turning Point USA.
Felarca’s history includes a 2019 incident where she was accused of assault and rioting. Video footage showed her physically confronting a man she labeled a “Nazi” and “white nationalist,” escalating into a violent attack by her and her allies. While felony charges were eventually dismissed, the incident underscored a pattern of aggressive tactics.
At the Sunday meeting, Felarca expressed vehement opposition to Turning Point USA organizing at Berkeley High School, stating, “What, no, no way.” She emphasized the need to vilify young people associated with the organization, labeling them “fascist” and calling for a concerted effort to prevent their presence in schools.
The group discussed a recent protest against a new Turning Point USA chapter at a high school in Michigan, demonstrating a coordinated effort to disrupt the organization’s activities across state lines. Attempts to reach representatives from Berkeley High School and the Unified School District for comment were unsuccessful.
Felarca argued for a proactive approach, mirroring the tactics used at UC Berkeley: “not just ignore this…but to also use collective action.” She stressed the importance of direct action, believing that relying on school administration alone would be ineffective, as the group had already been approved.
The meeting also revealed plans to “stop and block” ICE officers, including the distribution of “ICE whistles” branded with the “By Any Means Necessary” name, intended to alert communities to the presence of immigration enforcement. This escalation signals a broadening scope of their activism.
These developments have attracted the attention of federal investigators, who are examining whether BAMN and allied groups engaged in a coordinated conspiracy to suppress the free speech rights of Turning Point USA participants at the UC Berkeley event. The investigation highlights the potential for organized disruption and intimidation.
Evidence suggests the Berkeley protest was not a spontaneous outburst, but a premeditated operation coordinated by a network of seven organizations, many of which benefit from tax-free status. This raises questions about the use of nonprofit structures to shield potentially unconstitutional activities.
Harmeet Dhillon, a U.S. Assistant Attorney for Civil Rights, is intimately familiar with Felarca and BAMN, having previously won a lawsuit against Felarca for a frivolous restraining order. This history underscores the ongoing legal scrutiny surrounding the group’s actions.
Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for Turning Point USA, condemned the escalation as “fundamentally un-American,” characterizing it as a “conspiracy to silence the free speech of others.” He emphasized that the organization’s growth stemmed from the strength of its ideas, not from attempts to suppress opposing viewpoints.
During the meeting, an attorney for BAMN, Ronald Cruz, described a strategy of mobilizing opposition within UC Berkeley classrooms, aiming to disrupt not only Turning Point USA’s viewpoints but also their physical presence on campus. He proudly proclaimed the group’s “militant” approach and their ability to lead the recent demonstration despite the Justice Department’s investigation.
The group’s financial infrastructure is rooted in the “United for Equality and Affirmative Action Legal Defense Fund,” a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Metadata from protest flyers directly links this fund and Cruz to the creation of materials designed to coordinate the protest and discredit Turning Point USA.
This relationship raises concerns about the potential misuse of nonprofit status to support activities that are not charitable and may even be unconstitutional, including coordinated attempts to suppress political viewpoints and intimidate opponents. Experts warn of a growing vulnerability in the nonprofit regulatory framework.
Legal precedent consistently affirms the right to free speech, even for controversial viewpoints. Courts have ruled that public institutions cannot block specific perspectives or allow mob pressure to suppress dissenting voices. The suppression of one viewpoint, legal scholars argue, creates a dangerous precedent for the suppression of all viewpoints.
During the recent clash, a protester was arrested for allegedly stealing the necklace of a Turning Point USA attendee. Multiple arrests were made, highlighting the volatile nature of the confrontations. The seven organizations involved represent a diverse network spanning nonprofit philanthropy, socialist networks, and the “anti-fascist” movement.
The coordinated campaign against Turning Point USA involved classroom canvassing, pre-advertised flyers designed to incite confrontation, and physical intimidation. Felarca explicitly stated her intention to make Berkeley High School inhospitable to Turning Point USA members.
Felarca’s personal history reveals a background shaped by her family’s escape from an authoritarian regime. She immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines to escape the Marcos dictatorship, a formative experience that appears to inform her current activism.
Previous legal challenges have resulted in Felarca being ordered to pay legal fees to Judicial Watch for challenging a public records request. These legal battles underscore the ongoing scrutiny of her actions and the tactics employed by BAMN.
When Felarca invited dissent during the Sunday meeting, she was met with complete silence, a stark demonstration of the unwavering commitment to their escalated campaign against Turning Point USA.
