ROYAL OAK, Mich. – The creation of a Turning Point USA chapter at Royal Oak High School has sparked intense debate and protests, with some students claiming harassment and others defending their right to organize.
More than 270 students walked out of class in late October after the conservative organization announced its presence on campus through social media.
The demonstration led to a meeting between students and the district superintendent in the school cafeteria.
“Turning Point is a nationwide chapter that spreads conservative views and the same views that Charlie Kirk promoted. And those aren’t the things that we promote in our school,” said Leilani Hamilton, a 17-year-old senior who organized the walkout.
The tensions have moved beyond peaceful protest, according to some students. Braxtyn Romano, a junior who expressed interest in joining the club, reported experiencing harassment.
“I got harassed, posted about, and I would get shoulder bumped during class. And from then it’s just been a lot of hatred,” Romano said.
School administrators said they are monitoring the situation. At the time of our story, there hadn’t been any reported incidents at the school, but since, they have received two reports, school officials said.
Those two reports were investigated, and no harassment was found, the school said.
We continue to prioritize the safety of our students. We investigate every concern or incident that is brought to our attention. There have been two reports of a threat/harassment made to the administration by students, and after immediate investigations, it was clear that no threat or harassment had happened. We continue to monitor this situation and remain committed to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and productive learning environment for every student.
Should any student engage in conduct inconsistent with the mission of Royal Oak Schools, as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct and applicable Board of Education policies/guidelines, the District will take appropriate action in accordance with those guidelines.
Statement from Royal Oak Schools
The Royal Oak Police Department confirmed they haven’t received any formal reports but are keeping the issue “on their radar.”
Hamilton, who led the protest, has denounced any harassment of TPUSA members.
“That is just promoting the hate that we do not want in our community and making it happen. It is not going to help us get this conversation going if we then put fear in other people’s minds,” Hamilton said.
Romano said she joined the club to learn more about different political ideologies, having previously researched Democratic Party positions.
Despite the controversy, she remains committed to the organization.
“You’ve got to be careful with what you say, of course, but never back down, keep fighting,” Romano said.
The chapter’s first meeting is scheduled for Nov. 10.
Students opposing the chapter plan to attend the next school board meeting on Nov. 13 at DeVille and Churchill to voice their concerns about the organization’s presence on campus.