Florida vows legal action against efforts to block TPUSA chapters on campus
State Office of Parental Rights pledges action to protect student-led TPUSA clubs as national expansion and cross-state support unfold.
Florida will sue public schools that block Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapters on campus, the Florida Attorney General’s Office of Parental Rights announced on Thursday. The office said it will pursue legal action where necessary to safeguard students’ rights to organize, associate and engage in speech and debate. The announcement highlights Florida’s effort to shape school policies that facilitate campus clubs and free expression as part of a broader push to protect parental rights in education.
Attorney General James Uthmeier, standing beside April Carney, a member of the Duval County School Board, said the state has heard reports of TPUSA chapters being blocked on campus. “We’ve been hearing reports up and down the state public schools not allowing TPUSA organizations to be formed on campus. This is discriminatory–It’s wrong, and we will not stand for it. Our AG’s Office of Parental Rights will be bringing legal action where necessary to ensure we are protecting the rights of students to organize, associate, and engage in speech and debate,” Uthmeier wrote.
Carney said the Duval County School Board is reviewing its policy on student-led organizations to ensure there are no barriers to opening a TPUSA chapter or other clubs. The Florida AG’s Office of Parental Rights, announced in April, described itself as the nation’s first initiative of its kind, established to provide justice to parents and families whose rights have been violated. Florida’s office has not, at this time, confirmed any official reporting of high schools or other institutions attempting to block TPUSA chapters.
The development comes as TPUSA reports a surge in interest following what the group described as Charlie Kirk’s assassination, followed by a massive memorial service. TPUSA said it has received more than 120,000 inquiries from people seeking to start new campus chapters since that event.
Oklahoma has also moved to support TPUSA chapters. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters pledged Tuesday to establish a TPUSA chapter in every high school. Kirk’s wife, Erika, has been named the new CEO and chair of the board of Turning Point USA. The organization currently operates about 900 official college chapters and approximately 1,200 high school chapters.
