A faculty member at California State University, Fullerton is accused of hitting a College Republicans member during an otherwise peaceful demonstration between pro-Palestine students and counter-protesters.

Anthropology part-time lecturer Eric Canin got into an altercation with three students Wednesday as the Cal State Fullerton Students for Justice in Palestine and the CSUF College Republicans marched through campus, The Daily Titan student newspaper reported.

University Police Capt. Scot Willey said no injuries were reported and that the College Republicans club was following the other club from a safe distance before the altercation started.

The College Republicans told Breitbart News that Mr. Canin approached the group as they were marching and tried to rip a sign out of club member Jared Lopez’s hands. Member Bryce Ignalls stepped between the two men and was subsequently struck in the face by Mr. Canin, the group said.

“[Mr. Canin] came up, tried to grab [my] sign and pushed our way. … Then he went after [Mr. Ingalls] and started swinging at him,” Mr. Lopez told The Daily Titan.

A man claiming to be a professor has assaulted one of our protesters. We are in contact with the police. — CSUF Republicans (@CSUFGOP) February 8, 2017

The group’s president, Chris Boyle, said he witnessed the hit and proceeded to restrain Mr. Canin until police arrived.

“I saw a man who had told us he was a professor attacking Bryce Ingalls, and immediately intervened to physically restrain him until police arrived to apprehended him,” Mr. Boyle told Breitbart.

“It’s unfortunate that young Republicans and College Republicans can’t take their safety for granted on campus and get attacked for their views,” he added. “I felt shocked that this kind of violence could take place on our campus.”

Mr. Canin told The Daily Titan that he “did not touch anyone” and that the College Republicans “making fun of him” sparked the altercation.

“I ran into those bicycles and they started laughing,” he said. “I lost it and I started screaming and they grabbed me from behind and my stuff went flying everywhere.”

Mr. Canin said he’s “confident any video would exonerate” him.

A video published by Campus Reform showed tensions leading up to the incident, but not the alleged assault. A video shot by The Daily Titan caught the immediate aftermath of the alleged assault.

Music department professor Ken Walicki said he also confronted Mr. Canin during the altercation.

“I did not see [Mr. Canin] hit [Mr. Ingalls], but I saw [Mr. Ingalls] on the ground,” Mr. Walicki told The Daily Titan.

CSUF Chief Communications Officer Jeffery D. Cook responded to the incident by tweeting, “#CSUF prizes and promotes free and open expression. Any violent incident, however isolated, cannot be tolerated and is unacceptable.”

#CSUF prizes and promotes free and open expression. Any violent incident, however isolated, cannot be tolerated and is unacceptable. — Jeffrey D. Cook (@ccoCSUF) February 8, 2017

Fullerton Police confirmed that a police report had been filed under battery. Capt. Willey told the Daily Titan that the case will be sent to the district attorney’s office.

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