Edith Macias
Edith Macias
Edith Macias is a college student at the University of California, Riverside. [1]
Education
Macias studies ethnic studies at UCR, where she is expected to graduate in 2018. [1]
In the Media
Macias in the viral video
On September 27, 2017, Macias attended a conference at UC Riverside.
At the time the conference ended, Macias snatched the Make America Great Again hat of another classmate, Matthew Vitale, off his head and walked to the school's Student Life department.
As they walked towards the front desk, Vitale began recording her and demanded that she gave his hat back; she refused repeatedly.
In the video, Vitale and Macias (identified as 'Chala' in the video, according to the name tag on her shirt) walked towards the Student Life department.
They both walked in and she stated that Vitale thought it would be a good idea to wear the MAGA hat.
He responded by saying he has every right to wear the hat because of Freedom of Speech.
She claimed to the Student Life representatives that the red MAGA is causing genocide in the United States.
After she explained why she took his hat, he re-emphasized his point and added that she does not have the right to take other people's property that is legally theirs.
The exchange between the two continues for several minutes, as several employees try to figure out what to do.
Eventually, the hat was given to an employee who then returned it to Vitale.
When the video ended, she turns around heading towards the door where she is confronted by two cops.