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Conservative content creator Benjamin Williams tabled outside of Syracuse University’s Schine Student Center, sparking an impromptu counter-protest, hours of debate and questions about the university’s decision to permit the Tuesday afternoon event.

Williams, a conservative libertarian commentator with more than 40,000 TikTok followers who goes by the alias “PraxBen,” sat in front of Schine at around 1 p.m. and remained for nearly four hours. His table displayed a poster reading “Minors should not be allowed to transition, change my mind,” alongside others reading “Growing up is uncomfortable, mutilation is not the answer” and “Protect children from harmful gender ideology.”

At its peak, more than 80 people gathered around the table.

“I’ve gone to tons of different campuses. It’s just something I do,” Williams said. “I think we should humanize each other. I don’t want people having this conception that someone like me, who’s on the right, is just evil and hates everybody. I want them to see that I have reasonable explanations for why I believe things.”

The response from students was swift. A group of students walking with their professor after class spotted the table and improvised a counter-protest using markers and poster boards they had on hand. The group displayed posters across from the table, which included phrases like “Gender affirming healthcare saves lives” and “Protect trans kids.”

“We wanted to spread positivity and say something without actually having to engage directly,” Karina Nieves, an SU junior in the group, said. “They’re not looking for a conversation. They’re just here to say what they say and make people upset.”

SU’s chapter of College Republicans President Alexander Johnson told The Daily Orange the event was not a chapter-affiliated event, and instead was arranged “through the conservative caucus under the new Turning Point USA chapter,” he said. The chapter advertised the tabling event in a Sunday Instagram post.

According to 25Live, SU’s space reservation system and public events calendar, College Republicans reserved a Schine outdoor table from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday for an event titled “Change my mind table.” The event was approved by Student Engagement, according to 25Live. However, it notes that no “outside speakers or presenters” or “members outside of the SU community” were invited or would be attending.

In a statement to The D.O., an SU spokesperson confirmed College Republicans “followed the established process to secure approval” for Tuesday’s event.

Williams was also slated to speak at the chapter’s weekly Tuesday meeting at 7 p.m., according to the Instagram post. However, Johnson told The D.O. that the event was cancelled.

Williams said he’s done similar events with organizations, including Fearless Debates and Reawaken USA, and described campus settings as “ideal” for this kind of outreach.

“Gen Z in general is much more politically active and wants to have these conversations,” he said. “When you’re talking to older people, a lot of them are already pretty well set in their beliefs.”

Students began hanging posters with supportive messages and stood behind them, facing the tabling event and crowd. Avery Magee | Photo Editor

Brālyn Louise, a senior creative writing major, joined the counter-protest with Nieves and her class.

“They’re here to rage bait, to get attention, to upset people and draw a crowd, which they were successful in doing,” Louise said. “It’s even worse that Student Engagement allowed it.”

Junior Paige Kinsky, who had been studying in Schine, echoed that sentiment.

“There have been tons of admitted students and their parents walking by today,” Kinsky said. “We don’t want this to be their first impression of Syracuse University, because I think this community stands for so much more than what that table is showing.”

Not all students opted for a silent counter-protest. Several debated Williams directly with mixed results. Senior Olivia Stockmeyer, who was on her way to pick up her graduation cords, pressed Williams on the factual basis of his claims and left unimpressed.

“When I asked for specific numbers and specific facts, I did not get them,” Stockmeyer said. “He actually told me he had researched this a year ago and that it had been way too long. He didn’t really know it anymore.”

Stockmeyer tied the moment directly to her time at SU, and said one of the biggest things she’s learned from college is how to conduct research and cite sources properly. She said she didn’t understand why William would come to campus if he didn’t know specific details.

Sophomore Charlie Raibman also debated with Williams and raised concerns about the university’s decision to permit the event.

“I think it’s frankly irresponsible on the part of whoever made that decision,” Raibman said. “For all that the university talks about being safe, inclusive and welcoming, seeing that in the middle of campus is not welcoming. It’s not safe.”

An SU spokesperson told The D.O. the event was properly registered and not affiliated with the university.

“Syracuse University’s registered student organizations regularly reserve space and host events on campus, many of which involve controversial topics,“ the spokesperson wrote. “The University continues to support and protect the principles of academic freedom, freedom of expression, and the exchange of perspectives.”

Raibman drew a distinction, however, between the tabling and a separate speaking event Williams had scheduled for that evening. He said he had no issue with Williams hosting an event that people choose to attend, but that tabling outside of Schine didn’t give people the option.

At one point throughout the tabling, when Williams briefly stepped away, a student tore up a sign taped to the front of the table. Members of College Republicans quickly produced another identical sign.

“I think there’s something pretty toxic there, where they felt like they could do that when the guys weren’t around,” Williams said. “That’s not a good attitude to have, though it’s not a good attitude regardless of who’s there. I thought it was very distasteful, especially doing it the moment I walked away.”

Among those watching the scene unfold was Adam Williams, Benjamin Williams’ younger brother and a student at Onondaga Community College. Adam Williams said he was invited by his brother to attend, but does not share his views, describing himself as a socialist.

“He’s about as far right as you can get, I’m about as far left,” Adam Williams said.

Despite their political differences, Adam Williams said he does not believe his brother is acting in bad faith. He said that he doesn’t think his brother’s tabling is purely to make people on campus upset, but rather it is “quite effective electorally,” and that “the left should do it more.”

“I think he truly believes in what he speaks for, and for the most part, he does it respectfully,” Adam Williams said. “I just think (his beliefs are) f—g stupid. Dumb, lame and hateful.”

Assistant News Editor Arabella Klonowski contributed reporting to this article.

Published on April 21, 2026 at 11:43 pm