Student who wants Charlie Kirk-affiliated club at Gulfport HS must meet terms
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Student seeks Turning Point USA Club America chapter; handbook sets conditions.
- School handbook assigns principal authority, membership and sponsor requirements.
- Community members oppose Club America, citing founder Charlie Kirk’s views
A group that wants a student chapter of Turning Point USA’s Club America met Wednesday afternoon with officials at Gulfport High School.
Superintendent Glen East attended the meeting but would not discuss details with the Sun Herald afterward, because the Gulfport High School student who wants to start the chapter attended, along with her mother.
Turning Point USA founded Club America less than two months before Turning Point’s founder, political activist Charlie Kirk, was gunned down Sept. 10 while speaking on the campus of Utah Valley University.
The student appealed to the Gulfport School Board on Monday night for a chapter — a proposal met with opposition from several community members who feel the club will be divisive.
The federal Equal Access Act makes it unlawful for public schools to discriminate against voluntary, student-initiated clubs based on “religious, political, philosophical, or other speech content.”
What Gulfport’s student handbook says
The Gulfport School District has a handbook that addresses forming student clubs. The student has not yet met all the requirements for creation of the club.
“You’ve got to follow the process,” East told the Sun Herald, adding that would be his only comment.
The handbook says the principal — not the school board — approves clubs, and they can be sponsored by the school or a teacher.
“Each club must present a constitution, a list of at least twenty members and two sponsors’ names. If all requirements are met, the principal will issue a charter for that club to operate,” the handbook says.
The handbook also says, “Periodic evaluations of clubs will be made, evaluating how well the club is functioning, the desire of its members to continue working, and participation of the club in a school service project. If the club does not meet its objectives, the principal has the option of revoking the charter or putting the club on probation.”
Residents fear club would promote ‘hate and division’
The student and her mother declined to speak to the Sun Herald after the meeting. Two adults accompanying them also did not want to talk with the media.
The student told WLOX-TV on the night of the School Board meeting: “I’ve always had a very strong pull for talking about government and the market and Christian values. Ever since Charlie Kirk’s unfortunate passing, I decided that something needs to be said since his voice is no longer heard.”
But several community members were dismayed by plans for a Club America chapter. The group claims 1,200 high school chapters. However, its online map shows one in Gulfport even though it has not yet been approved.
Turning Point USA, is now run by Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk. The organization encourages “citizens of all ages to rise up against the radical left in defense of freedom, free markets, and limited government.”
Some, including members of the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, noted that Charlie Kirk legitimized “racist, harmful, and fundamentally un-American” ideals, online news outlet Politico reported after a bipartisan resolution to memorialize him.
Several members of the Gulfport community are concerned about Club America’s formation in the public school system.
“My issue is the club exemplifies hate and division, and the organization’s representatives have made very strong racist statements,” said Sonya Williams Barnes, a former state representative and mayoral candidate. “It’s not the atmosphere I would want students to be in at Gulfport High. I have not seen racist things or racist groups at Gulfport High in the past, and I would want to ensure that our children are in a safe environment while learning.”
The Rev. Eddie Hartwell, pastor at St. James Baptist Church in Gulfport, told the Sun Herald on Wednesday night.
“The reason for my objection is that Charlie Kirk, who is the founder of Turning Point, (had a) worldview that is that of a white supremacist. He has had many disparaging things to say about people of color.
“God only made one race and that’s the human race. We are all of that race. We’re just different shades of brown.”
