A graduate student at Illinois State University has been arrested and dismissed from his teaching assistant role after a video of him flipping a Turning Point USA table went viral. This incident happened last week while the TPUSA chapter was promoting an event featuring conservative comedian Alex Stein scheduled for October 20.
Derek Lopez, 27, was filmed rushing toward the table and making a disruptive scene. In a rather unexpected commentary on his actions, he referenced a Biblical story, saying, “Well, Jesus did it, so I know I have to do it, right?” He had initially intended to tug at the tablecloth but ended up knocking the table over instead.
The story he alluded to, found in Matthew 21:12, describes Jesus overturning tables in the temple, driving out those exchanging money and selling animals, claiming it had become a “den of robbers.”
On Monday, the university confirmed that Lopez had been removed from his position. They stated, “While Illinois State University does not comment specifically on personnel matters, we can confirm that Derek Lopez has been relieved of his duties as a graduate teaching assistant pending further investigation.”
Graduate teaching assistants at public universities receive a monthly salary. At Illinois State, that amount was raised to $1,510 per month in August for graduate students in master’s programs. Assuming a workload of around 20 hours a week, this translates to about $19 per hour, surpassing the state’s minimum wage by around $4.
Lopez was arrested on Friday, facing charges of disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property. Additionally, university police mentioned that he was linked to another incident where he disrupted a different student organization’s informational table.
In response to the Lopez incident, university officials and campus police have emphasized their dedication to safeguarding First Amendment rights. They encourage community members to be informed about their rights regarding free speech and to handle disagreements constructively. University Police Chief Aaron Woodruff stated, “We encourage all members of our community to learn more about their free speech rights and responsibilities at Illinois State University.”
