Protests arose after the announcement of a new Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapter at a high school in suburban Detroit. Residents and students of Royal Oak High School (ROHS) gathered to voice their opposition to the group prior to its inaugural rally.
A flyer promoting a “Walkout Against Hate and Violence” on October 22 indicated that students would walk out of class as a form of protest against TPUSA’s presence in the school. It instructed participants to bring their belongings.
At Ohio University, students reported incidents of peers tearing down flyers and targeting the U.S. chapter with hostility. Bruno, the president of the newly formed TPUSA chapter at ROHS, anticipated some negative feedback but was caught off guard by the extent of the backlash. He remarked that the initial flyer was merely an invitation for interested students to engage, yet it sparked an overwhelming wave of hate.
According to Jayden Bennett, a TPUSA field representative in Michigan, many students actively protested the chapter’s establishment. Some demonstrators even confronted the principal about it.
Additionally, a student group named Royal Oak Student Voice released a statement criticizing TPUSA, labeling it a “white supremacist” organization disguised as a civic nonprofit. Their memo argued that TPUSA promotes harmful ideologies and encouraged people to check their materials to understand their views better.
In response to the tension, the Royal Oak Student Union drafted a “Constitution Against Hate,” accusing school officials of negligence for allowing the chapter to form.
Bennett played a significant role in setting up the TPUSA chapter, which was officially approved by the principal shortly after its inception on October 15. Within hours of their Instagram announcement, they received a flood of comments—many negative—drawing harsh criticisms and even calls for the chapter’s dissolution.
Many comments on social media condemned the group, with accusations that its members had extremist views. Over the next couple of days, the situation escalated, leading to some extreme comments, including threats.
Bennett noted that there was a surge of interest in starting a TPUSA chapter following the recent death of a prominent activist, emphasizing that outreach efforts had previously centered on community engagement. Now, students were approaching him on their own, expressing a desire to be involved in the organization’s mission.
Bruno expressed motivation for leading the chapter, emphasizing that everyone deserves a platform to express their ideas. He clarified that their focus isn’t solely on the Republican Party but on fostering open discussions among individuals with varying viewpoints.
There has been no response from ROHS officials regarding the events surrounding the protests and the new chapter.
