Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has cautioned public schools across the state not to prevent the formation of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapters. In a video message posted online, Uthmeier said his office would step in to safeguard students’ rights to free association and debate. “We were hearing reports up and down the state of public schools not allowing Turning Point USA organisations to be formed on campus. This is discriminatory. It’s wrong and we will not stand for it,” Uthmeier said.
The warning from Uthmeier comes as TPUSA, a conservative youth organisation founded by Charlie Kirk, experiences a significant increase in student interest. Kirk, who was closely associated with US President Donald Trump, was fatally shot on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University. Following his assassination, TPUSA has received a large number of enquiries as students seek to form new chapters on campuses.
TPUSA currently operates about 900 college chapters and 1,200 high school chapters across the country. Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for the group, said, “the number of new enquiries topped 120,000 following a recent memorial service for Kirk, according to Fox News.”
In the same video, April Carney, a Duval County School Board member, addressed policy changes. She said the board is updating procedures to make sure there are “no issues” with opening new TPUSA clubs or other student-led groups.
After Charlie Kirk’s death, his widow, Erika Kirk, has been named CEO of TPUSA. The organisation said Kirk had previously expressed this wish in the event of his passing. Erika has vowed to continue his work, stating on September 12, “The movement my husband built will not die.”
– Ends