Students at Stratford High School in Houston are moving forward with a new chapter of Turning Point USA’s Club America, despite efforts by leftist political activists to pressure teachers and intimidate students into shutting it down.
Last week the students were thrust into controversy when their private group messages discussing potential sponsors for the new club were screenshotted and posted in a Facebook group. Nathalie Herpin, vice president of the Spring Branch Democrats Club, urged members to email the teachers and pressure them not to support the students. In her post, she claimed Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk had been murdered in an “interpersonal rivalry” and said the group’s presence at Stratford would divide the campus and endanger students.
Nevertheless, the group has been officially recognized by the school with a math teacher as the club’s sponsor.
Speaking to a packed ballroom of hundreds of supporters Wednesday evening, including several members of the Spring Branch ISD school board, student organizer Jack Robertson explained that the group’s mission is to “inform, educate, and advocate.”
“We want to inform our peers about what’s going on in the world, locally, nationally, and globally, so that we can all understand how these events impact our lives,” said Robertson.
“We want to educate our peers on the foundation of our country—the Constitution, how fortunate we are to have the freedoms we do—and realize the importance of our voice and our vote. It is not just a drop in the bucket. Our voices matter.”
Robertson told his classmates the club must “build our house on the rock, not the sand” and create leaders who will “be confident in moments of discourse, discussion, and controversy.” He urged them to adopt a “never quit” attitude, saying, “Let’s go make an impact, and let’s adopt a never quit attitude to lead this club, to help build a generation that will be equipped to lead this great country into the future.”
Kenny Webster, a radio host, blasted the activists who doxxed the students.
“A fully grown adult got on the internet and posted personal information about them and endangered their lives. It’s time to turn this moment into a movement,” said Webster.
Fellow radio host Michael Berry told the crowd, “We are all here because of kids 15 through 18 years old—not to watch them throw a football or shoot a basketball, but because these young folks are focused on the country they’re going to inherit.”
He added, “Charlie Kirk’s assassination was darkness. What these young people are doing—and what you, the community who have come out to support them, are doing—is lighting a candle and lighting the world.”
Attorney General Ken Paxton, who previously announced his office would investigate the online targeting, delivered an extended message of encouragement.
He reminded students that courage is a choice.
“Unfortunately, I don’t see many people in the political arena choosing courage. They choose other things. But as I look at you all, what you’ve accomplished at a very young age, you should know you are exhibiting courage that is so rarely seen in adults and particularly politicians.”
Paxton urged them to persevere, quoting Winston Churchill’s words to “never give in.” He closed by saying, “Continue to encourage, continue to inspire other people. Persevere. Do not ever give up.”
