Oppose State-Sponsored Turning Point USA Chapters in Texas High Schools

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the state partnership with Turning Point USA to establish chapters in every Texas high school. This initiative represents an inappropriate use of state resources to promote a divisive political organization in public schools where students are most impressionable. The Southern Poverty Law Center describes Turning Point as an organization that sows fear that white Christian supremacy is under attack by immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community, and civil rights activists. The organization's founder, Charlie Kirk, faced widespread criticism for comments many found hateful toward LGBTQ+ communities, non-Christians, people of color, and women. Students and parents across multiple states have filed petitions describing the organization's messaging as racist, homophobic, and sexist hate speech. This partnership raises serious constitutional concerns. Legal experts have questioned whether state governments can legally use public resources to promote political causes in schools. The initiative becomes even more troubling when considered alongside Senate Bill 12, which banned student clubs with an LGBTQ+ focus. Governor Abbott acknowledged he would be highly unlikely to endorse similar initiatives for progressive causes, revealing the partisan nature of this effort. The threat of meaningful disciplinary action against schools that do not accommodate these chapters, as stated by Governor Abbott, creates a coercive environment that undermines local control. Zeph Capo, president of the Texas American Federation of Teachers, correctly noted that while such groups may have a place on college campuses, they do not belong in high schools where students are more vulnerable to manipulation. I urge you to oppose this partnership and any legislation that would mandate or incentivize Turning Point USA's presence in Texas schools. Public education should remain a politically neutral space focused on academic excellence, not a platform for organizations with documented histories of promoting divisive rhetoric. Our students deserve better than state-sponsored political indoctrination.