Texas launches plan to open Turning Point USA chapters in every high school

Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Turning Point USA Senior Director Josh Thifault revealed the initiative during a news conference at the Governor’s Mansion [last] Monday. They did not outline any plans that would require schools to initiate the clubs, but Abbott said that he expects “meaningful disciplinary action” to take place against “any stoppage of TPUSA in the great state of Texas.”

Kirk’s organization has traditionally operated on college campuses, promoting itself as a hub for young people committed to conservative values. The group is also known for having created a so-called professor watchlist, which allows users to search for educators perceived as supporting and promoting liberal viewpoints in the classroom. Turning Point’s work has at times caused tension, particularly among students and faculty members who have reported being harassed because of the negative spotlight placed on them by the organization.

The group’s “Club America” chapters, meanwhile, operate in high schools. The clubs aim to “build strong networks, spearhead impactful initiatives, help students register to vote, and inspire meaningful conversations about the foundations of a free society,” according to their website.

Republican officials in Oklahoma and Florida have also announced partnerships with Turning Point to expand the organization’s presence. Those partnerships rely on interested students to initiate the clubs, while Turning Point provides them with organizational support.

Abbott on Monday sought to distance Turning Point from any particular political party, comparing it to organizations like the Fellowship of Christian Athletes currently present in many public schools.

The governor acknowledged that it is highly unlikely he would endorse a similar initiative for more progressive, left-leaning causes, but added that “it would not be illegal” for them to exist in public schools.

[At least he's open about his plans for biased political indoctrination.]

essentialsaltes said:

The group’s “Club America” chapters, meanwhile, operate in high schools. The clubs aim to “build strong networks, spearhead impactful initiatives, help students register to vote, and inspire meaningful conversations about the foundations of a free society,” according to their website.

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A taste of the meaningful conversations from Club America.

Lincoln [California] mayor's remarks at high school’s first Club America ignite controversy​

Mayor Holly Andreatta, who recently launched her campaign for Placer County Supervisor, spoke for about 25 minutes at the inaugural meeting of Club America at Twelve Bridges High School. In her remarks she tied her daughter’s sexual orientation to childhood trauma, said that separation of church and state was a myth and relayed Kirk’s belief that Martin Luther King Jr. was a Marxist and that his civil rights activism was “not helpful.”

“My oldest daughter had a lot of trauma as a child,” Andreatta says in a video recording of the club’s meeting. “Something really terrible happened to her when she was very young that I would hope would never happen to any other child, and as a result of it, she’s a lesbian. She’s gay.”

Senior Rebecca Warner, who identifies as a lesbian, did not attend the meeting, but was approached by one student leaving the meeting who made a hurtful comment about her sexuality.

“One student told me they learned that God was working on me because I’ve endured trauma, causing me to become gay,” she said.

The students group seeking to disband the club acknowledged and disavowed the post [threatening the student founders of the Club America chapter], which they said was made by an anonymous account that they were not associated with. They said they reported the account and encouraged others to do so, too.
“I have complete respect for their political ideologies,” Warner said. “I wish that they would have respect for my identity and for my existence.”