Following an announcement that a Turning Point USA chapter would be established at a high school in Detroit’s suburbs, a demonstration took place.
Prior to its inaugural meeting, locals and Royal Oak High School (ROHS) students gathered to protest the TPUSA chapter.
According to a flyer promoting the demonstration, a student organized a “Walk Out Against Hate & Violence” on October 22 “in opposition to the Turning Point USA coming to our school.”
“We will be sitting down in class and then leaving. Bring your items with you,” the flyer states.
STUDENT AT OHIO UNIVERSITY SAYS PEERS TEARING DOWN FLYERS, SENDING HATE OVER NEW TURNING POINT USA CHAPTER
Bruno, the president of the TPUSA chapter at ROHS, told Fox News Digital he anticipated some opposition but not to the degree that the chapter experienced.
“We haven’t even had our first meeting. It was a flyer to get people to join and to share interest with us if they want to come. All the hate we received kind of just exploded,” he stated.
Jaden Bennett, one of the TPUSA Michigan high school field representatives for metro Detroit, stated that dozens of students protested the chapter’s creation.
“Some of these students that were protesting were questioning the principal,” she noted.
Furthermore, a student organization known as the Royal Oak Student Voice issued a statement criticizing TPUSA’s platform and alleging that it is a “white supremacist” organization posing as a civic non-profit.
“But in reality, Turning Point USA is a primary driver of white supremacist, anti-LGBTQ, pro-violence, anti-woman propaganda for young audiences. Below are quotes from its main spokesperson at Turning Point USA events. These aren’t political opinions. These are examples of Turning Point USA’s otherist and hateful views. Check their website for videos and podcasts if this isn’t enough,” the student group declared.
RUTGERS PROFESSOR SIGNS PETITION TO DISBAND TURNING POINT USA FROM CAMPUS
Additionally, the United Students of Royal Oak created a “Constitution Against Hate.” The constitution accused the school administration of being unaware for approving the “pro-hate” chapter.
Bennett spearheaded the initiative to launch a TPUSA chapter at ROHS. Bennett stated that Bruno and other students chartered the chapter on October 15. On October 21, the principal gave the chapter his approval.
Within the first two hours of the TPUSA chapter’s Instagram post, there was outrage. Despite the chapter’s social media account having only 15 followers, the initial post received over 300 comments.
Many comments demanded the group’s removal.
“Students are just like, you’re hateful, you are a Nazi, oh my gosh, you’re a fascist, like, Charlie hated gay people, Charlie is a racist, how could you be promoting this?” Bennett explained.
Over the following 48 hours, the reaction intensified, with some comments containing death threats.
UT CHATTANOOGA OVERRULES STUDENT GOVERNMENT, APPROVES TPUSA CHAPTER AFTER REJECTION FIGHT
“Within like 24 pushing 48 hours… They had accumulated over 900 Instagram comments on this post. Maybe 100 were positive, you know, like supportive. A lot of them were my students and other field reps,” Bennett recounted.
Bennett has been inundated with requests to launch chapters ever since Kirk’s passing.
“Before Charlie passed away, I was doing a lot of outreach through social media and just faced off like community contacts and parent connections,” Bennett stated.
“Ever since Charlie died, students have been reaching out – like I would say 90% of our students that are involved now are completely like they’ve reached out by themselves. We have almost 3,000 chapters in high school and the high school department.”
Bruno took the initiative to lead the TPUSA chapter because he thinks everyone is entitled to a voice in discussions.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“People have been telling me why not just make a Republican club? This is more about just the Republican part of the party. This isn’t about Republicans and religion. And this is about having open discussions with people who view differently so that we can get their side, and we could discuss our side.”
ROHS officials did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
