A University of St. Thomas student has found herself at the center of a media firestorm after telling a protester to “go back to your own country, bitch,” sparking a wave of critical headlines from Minnesota’s legacy media and prompting a university investigation.
The viral confrontation occurred Oct. 14 outside Coffman Memorial Union at the University of Minnesota, where women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines was speaking at an event hosted by Turning Point USA.
Minnesota news outlets soon picked up the story, with headlines focusing solely on her remarks and the university’s public condemnation.
FOX 9 published a story titled “St. Thomas says ‘hateful language’ in viral video conflicts with its values.”
Bring Me The News went further, describing the student’s statement as a “racist comment” in its headline.
The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that the video had prompted calls for disciplinary action and a university investigation.
But the coverage largely overlooked two significant details: the identity of the man involved and that he was shouting and reportedly holding a sign displaying the word “CUNT” before the student responded.
The man, Derek Torstenson, is a familiar figure on Minnesota’s left-wing protest circuit, with a documented history of displaying the same vulgar term at demonstrations, including events where violence has erupted.
This is Ava and she’s a nursing student who was attending an event by Conservative Political activist Riley Gaines at the University of Minnesota campus & she told a brown man there recording who was born in the U.S that he’s a Bitch and needs to go back to his Country. 🤬 pic.twitter.com/75OgPpMiKd
— Suzie rizzio (@Suzierizzo1) October 17, 2026
Meet Derek Torstenson
Torstenson, who says he was adopted from Moscow, Russia, and has a “strong accent,” is a familiar face at local protests whose antics have been documented by Alpha News and other media outlets.
His protest repertoire includes megaphones, profanity-laced confrontations, disruptive demonstrations and a handheld fan emblazoned with the word “CUNT.”
In other words, Torstenson is no stranger to Minnesota newsrooms.
Conservative commentator Dustin Grage identified Torstenson on X, writing, “This is the protester who was yelling at her through a megaphone,” before criticizing the Star Tribune for overlooking Torstenson’s conduct.
“Totally cool to refer to a young female college student as a ‘cunt,’ apparently,” Grage wrote.
Torstenson reposted Grage’s comments with the comment: “Thanks for the shout out daddy.”
Thanks for the shout out daddy https://t.co/5eCFN00IHw
— Fund_Abortion (@_DTorstenson) October 19, 2026
John Nagel, a candidate for Congress in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, also weighed in on an X post by Grage identifying Torstenson as the aggressor.
“Yes this is. I was there,” Nagel wrote, appearing to corroborate Grage’s account.
A history of provocation
Torstenson has appeared at protests marked by heated and, at times, violent confrontations, while video from at least one separate incident shows police detaining him.
On Easter Sunday, Torstenson was among protesters gathered outside Cities Church in St. Paul, where church leaders said demonstrators shouted harassing comments at families arriving for worship.
As Alpha News previously reported, video posted to Torstenson’s Instagram account showed a police officer warning protesters that continued shouting audible inside the church during services could result in arrests. Torstenson responded by leading chants and taunting officers, asking, “Oh, is that too loud for you?”
He also made an appearance outside an August Minnesota Lynx game at Target Center, where protesters and counterprotesters clashed over transgender participation in women’s sports.
According to Racket, Torstenson brandished a handheld fan displaying the word “CUNT” during a protest outside the game and repeatedly confronted demonstrators with a megaphone. When one organizer asked him to move, Torstenson reportedly replied, “No, not leaving, bitch.”
Conservative commentator Dustin Grage also posted about the incident on X, drawing attention to Torstenson’s use of the profanity-laced fan.
Racket went on to describe Torstenson as a “prominent Twin Cities activist,” reporting that “his fan that revealed the word ‘CUNT'” is “the same fan he used to post behind Savanah Hernandez before a fight broke out at the Whipple last April” in which Hernandez was assaulted on camera.
And his protest appearances haven’t always ended without police intervention.
Video posted to X shows officers handcuffing and detaining him outside a Target store in Richfield earlier this year.
Torstenson also promotes a GoFundMe seeking donations to cover his bills and legal expenses, citing “mental health issues” that he says have left him unable to work.
His activism has also brought him into the orbit of some of Minnesota’s most prominent Democratic politicians. On Saturday, Torstenson posted a photo of himself with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, captioned “We stand with you [Ilhan],” and tagged both Ellison and U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar.
We stand with you @IlhanMN 👏🏼✊🏻@keithellison pic.twitter.com/y1nTnkTw15
— Fund_Abortion (@_DTorstenson) October 17, 2026
St. Thomas launches investigation, condemns student’s remarks
The University of St. Thomas wasted little time responding to the viral video, issuing a public statement Oct. 16 in which it acknowledged the incident and confirmed it had launched an investigation into the student’s conduct.
In its official statement, the Catholic university said it began looking into the off-campus confrontation as soon as administrators became aware of it.
“The language heard in the video is inconsistent with the university’s values and convictions,” the statement said.
“As a Catholic university, we have a responsibility to provide a welcoming environment for all and do not condone this language being used by anyone in our university community.”
The university also assured the public that it was taking the matter seriously and addressing it under its student code of conduct, while citing student privacy laws as the reason it could not discuss potential disciplinary action.
The university concluded by stating its commitment to “providing support and working to build a university community that respects the dignity of each person.”
Alpha News contacted the University of St. Thomas to ask whether administrators were aware of allegations that Torstenson was shouting and holding a sign displaying the word “CUNT” and whether that context would be considered as part of the university’s investigation.
Alpha News also asked what steps the university is taking to protect the student from harassment, threats or retaliation amid the widespread publicity surrounding the incident.
St. Thomas did not respond to the inquiry.
Alpha News also asked the Minnesota Star Tribune and FOX 9 why their coverage omitted reports that Torstenson had a sign reading “CUNT.”
Both outlets were also asked whether Torstenson’s well-documented history of confrontational protests might have been relevant context for readers and viewers, rather than focusing exclusively on the student’s remarks.
Neither outlet responded.
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
