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ROYAL OAK, Mich. – A polarizing new club at Royal Oak High School has caused tension among students, even sparking protests and sit-ins. More than 270 students walked out of class in late October after the conservative organization Turning Point USA announced its presence on campus through social media. “Turning Point is a nationwide chapter that spreads conservative views and the same views that Charlie Kirk promoted,” said Leilani Hamilton, a 17-year-old senior who organized the walkout. “Those aren’t the things that we promote in our school.” The class walk-out led to a meeting between students and the district superintendent in the school cafeteria. Some students say the tensions have moved past peaceful protests. Braxtyn Romano, a junior, said he’s experienced harassment after expressing interest in the club. “I got harassed, posted about, and I would get shoulder bumped during class,” Romano said. “From then, it’s just been a lot of hatred.” The Royal Oak Police Department confirmed they haven’t received any formal reports but are keeping the issue “on their radar.” 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 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,” Hamilton said. “It is not going to help us get this conversation going if we then put fear in other people’s minds.” 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 Monday, 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.
