Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Turning Point USA have launched a partnership to create chapters of the right-wing organization on every Texas high school campus.
The initiative was revealed at a news conference at the Governor Mansion but did not outline the plan to attempt to force schools to initiate the clubs, but Abbott said he expects diciplinary action to take place against against stoppage of TPUSA in the Texas.
Abbott said any school that stands in the way of a Club America program should be reported to the Texas Education Agency.
Prior to the announcement, TEA commissioner Mike Morath met privately with The Turning Point CEO to discuss expanding the organization's presence in public schools. Four days after that meeting, Patrick said he would commit $1 million in campaign fund to push the project forward.
Turning Point USA was founded by Charlie Kirk, the late right-wing activist. Kirk was killed in early September while speaking on a college campus in Utah.
Generally, Turning Point USA has operated on college campuses promoting conservative values and is known for having created a so-called professor watch list which allows users to search for educators perceived as supporting liberal viewpoints.
The group’s “Club America” chapters, meanwhile, operate in high schools aiming to build strong networks, spearhead impactful initiatives, help students register to vote, and inspire meaningful conversations about the foundations of a free society,” according to their website.
Petitions calling for the removal of the school chapters have emerged, with some students and parents calling the organization racist, homophobic and sexist on college campuses and sowing feat that white Christian supremacy is under attack.