Turning Point USA is planning to establish an 'Always Love America' group at Eagle Valley High School on Tuesday, October 28th. This isn't just another political debate club. TPUSA is a well-funded organization linked to hard-right extremists identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The group prides itself on being at the forefront of cultural wars, perpetuating fear and division. Members associated with TPUSA have routinely engaged in racist, homophobic, and sexist hate speech on college campuses across America. Their refusal to condemn harassment and violence that result from their actions is a testament to their true nature.

What’s most alarming is TPUSA's latest strategy to infiltrate high schools. Eagle Valley High School's administration and Superintendent Phil Qualman have confirmed that the group secured a taxpayer-funded faculty sponsor, as required by district policy. The district shared that they don't prevent student groups from forming based on political or religious affiliations, provided they “don’t promote violence, bullying, or behavior that disrupts the learning environment.”However, TPUSA is recognized for promoting just that, as documented by The American Association of University Professors. [AAUP Report](https://www.aaup.org/sites/default/files/TPUSA_on_Campus.pdf

Here are some striking examples of TPUSA's controversial activities:
- TPUSA runs the Professor Watchlist, profiling "radical professors" and often inciting online harassment campaigns. At Arizona State University, TPUSA affiliates confessed to being involved in a violent incident that left a faculty member injured. [ASU President's Response](https://newsroom.asu.edu/statements/president-crow-turning-point-usa-bullying-asu-faculty Yale University Professor Tariq Khan went viral sharing his experiences of threats after being listed.

- TPUSA has built a media empire that supports extreme, right-wing figures known for instigating hostility. In spring 2024, TPUSA invited Kyle Rittenhouse, who shot two people at a Black Lives Matter protest, to university campuses. They've also hosted Proud Boys leaders, a militant far-right organization labeled a terrorist group in Canada and New Zealand. Their chapters often stage controversies that are then edited into viral videos, showing a disregard for genuine scholarly discussions.

- Charlie Kirk, TPUSA's founder, has said “hate speech doesn’t legally exist in America” and “there is no true separation of church and state”. Additionally, TPUSA organized and financed student participation in the January 6th "Stop the Steal" rally, sending over 80 buses to Washington, DC. When questioned about their involvement in the Capitol attack, Kirk invoked his Fifth Amendment rights.

The rise in hate, teen depression, and suicide rates is a concerning trend. Eagle Valley High School is still recovering from a tragic first-degree murder case involving its students in 2024. Allowing TPUSA to gather here risks attracting more national attention, endangering the safety of students and faculty, and contributing to existing tensions. TPUSA does not belong around young impressionable minds who are still trying to learn about the world and their place in it. It undermines district wide efforts to foster a diverse and supportive learning environment. 

Teaching youth to identify and reject hate groups is crucial. Publicly funded schools in Eagle County, Colorado, should not provide a platform for well documented, dangerous organizations like Turning Point USA. I urge you to protect our students and their future by signing this petition against allowing TPUSA at Eagle Valley High School.