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Created page with "{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2018}} {{Infobox Organization |image = Turning_Point_USA_logo.jpg |image_size = 150px |name = Turning..."
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox Organization
|image = Turning_Point_USA_logo.jpg
|image_size = 150px
|name = Turning Point USA
|formation = {{start date and age|2012|6|5}}
|type = Nonprofit student organization
|tax_id = 80-0835023
|purpose = Activism
|region_served = United States<br>Canada{{fact|date=February 2019}}<br>United Kingdom{{fact|date=February 2019}}
|leader_name = Charlie Kirk
|website = {{URL|https://www.tpusa.com}}
}}
'''Turning Point USA''' ('''TPUSA''') is an American [[right wing]], [[nonprofit organization]].<ref name="threat">{{Citation|last=Mele|first=Christopher|title=Professor Watchlist Is Seen as Threat to Academic Freedom|date=November 28, 2016|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/28/us/professor-watchlist-is-seen-as-threat-to-academic-freedom.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref name=spec>{{Cite web|url=http://columbiaspectator.com/news/2016/11/30/columbia-professor-targeted-watchlist-published-conservative-group|title=Columbia professor targeted on 'watchlist' published by conservative group - Columbia Daily Spectator|website=Columbiaspectator.com|access-date=September 6, 2017}}</ref>
Since 2016, Turning Point USA has maintained a [[Professor Watchlist]] that lists college professors it alleges discriminate against conservative students and advance left-wing propaganda in the classroom.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/12/01/new-conservative-watchlist-targets-professors-for-advancing-leftist-propaganda/|title=New conservative 'watch list' targets professors for advancing 'leftist propaganda'|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|access-date=February 19, 2017}}</ref> The organization has also secretly attempted to influence [[student government]] elections in an effort to "combat [[Liberalism in the United States|liberalism]] on college and university campuses".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chronicle.com/article/Inside-a-Stealth-Plan-for/240008|title=Inside a Stealth Plan for Political Influence|last=Vasquez|first=Michael|date=May 7, 2017|work=The Chronicle of Higher Education|access-date=September 8, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0009-5982}}</ref><ref>Kamenetz, Anya (April 4, 2018) [https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2018/04/04/590928008/professor-harassment "Professors Are Targets In Online Culture Wars; Some Fight Back"] [[NPR]]</ref>
In December 2017, former employees of the organization accused it of engaging in racist practices, as well as potentially illegal involvement in the [[United States presidential election, 2016|2016 presidential election]].<ref name=":0" />
==Formation and activities==
Charlie Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012, when he was 18 years old. At the [[2012 Republican National Convention]], Kirk met [[Foster Friess]], a prominent Republican donor, and persuaded him to finance the organization.<ref name="bloomberg">{{cite news|title=This Boy Wonder Is Building the Conservative MoveOn.org in an Illinois Garage|url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20150507/NEWS02/150509859/this-boy-wonder-is-building-a-conservative-moveon-org-in-a-lemont-garage|agency=Bloomberg News|date=May 7, 2015}}</ref><ref name="atlantic" /> Friess also serves on the organization's advisory council, alongside [[Ginni Thomas]], wife of [[US Supreme Court]] Justice [[Clarence Thomas]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tpusa.com/aboutus/advisory-council/|title=Advisory Council - Turning Point USA|website=Tpusa.com|language=en|access-date=September 6, 2017}}</ref>
Turning Point holds several annual national conferences, including the Young Women's Leadership Summit (YWLS)<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/17/us/politics/women-conservative-trump.html|title=At Conservative Women's Conference, a Safe Space for Trumpism|last=Herndon|first=Astead W.|access-date=June 17, 2018|language=en}}</ref> and the Young Latino Leadership Summit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tpusa.com/young-latino-leadership-summit/|title=Young Latino Leadership Summit|publisher=Turning Point USA}}</ref> The [[National Rifle Association]] was the headline sponsor of the YWLS in 2017 and 2018.<ref name=":2" /> According to ''The New York Times'', YWLS "styles itself as an alternative to a liberal culture of feminism that many Republicans characterize as oppressive" and had by 2018 "evolved into an ultra-Trumpian event complete with '[[Lock Her Up|lock her up]]' chants and vulgar T-shirts disparaging Hillary Clinton."<ref name=":2" /> Candace Owens, who days prior to the 2018 conference stirred controversy by saying "the entire premise of #[[Me Too movement|metoo]] is that women are stupid, weak, and inconsequential", was greeted with a standing ovation at the conference.<ref name=":2" />
Each of Turning Point's paid workers is supposed to meet a quota to make at least 1,500 student contacts per semester.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-05-07/conservative-boy-wonder|title=This Boy Wonder Is Building the Conservative MoveOn.org in an Illinois Garage|date=May 7, 2015|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|access-date=February 19, 2017}}</ref> Student volunteers have several different themes for promoting conservative ideas, including "The Healthcare Games," "Game of Loans," and "iCapitalism."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/politics/2016/april/turning-point-is-the-youth-vote-really-all-that-liberal|title=Turning Point: Is the Youth Vote Really All That Liberal?|website=Cbn.com (beta)|access-date=April 29, 2016}}</ref>
Turning Point USA is pro-military, pro-police, [[anti-feminist]], and [[Criticism of Islam|anti-Muslim]].<ref name="mediamatters.org">{{cite web|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2018/09/04/right-wing-media-exploit-death-nfl-player-turned-soldier-rebuke-colin-kaepernick/221186|title=Right-wing media exploit the death of an NFL player-turned-soldier to rebuke Colin Kaepernick|date=September 4, 2018|website=Media Matters for America|accessdate=February 15, 2019}}</ref> They support [[fossil fuels]] and the [[National Rifle Association]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/apr/07/charlie-kirk-turning-point-usa-universities-free-speech-debate|title=I went inside a rightwing safe space to find out the truth about universities - Cas Mudde|first=Cas|last=Mudde|date=April 7, 2018|accessdate=February 15, 2019|website=Theguardian.com}}</ref> and oppose black activists such as [[Black Lives Matter]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://cornellsun.com/2018/10/14/conservative-activist-charlie-kirk-brings-campus-clash-lecture-to-cornell/|title=Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk Brings ‘Campus Clash’ Lecture to Cornell|date=October 15, 2018|newspaper=[[The Cornell Daily Sun]]|accessdate=February 15, 2019}}</ref>
In February 2019, Turning Point established an internet presence in the United Kingdom,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/TPointUK|title=Turning Point UK (@TPointUK) - Twitter|website=Twitter.com|accessdate=February 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tpointuk.co.uk/|title=Turning Point UK|website=Turning Point UK|accessdate=February 15, 2019}}</ref> having previously expanded to Canada{{fact|date=February 2019}}.
== Finances ==
Turning Point's revenues were $78,890 in 2012, $443,859 in 2013, $2,052,060 in 2014, $4,319,220 in 2015, and $8,248,059 in 2016.<ref name="guidestar.org">Staff (May 6, 2016) [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2015/800/835/2015-800835023-0c9e9986-9.pdf "Turning Point USA: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax" (Form 990)] [[GuideStar]]</ref><ref name=beastrevealed>Markay, Lachlan (June 28, 2018) [https://www.thedailybeast.com/exclusive-pro-trump-group-turning-point-usa-has-finances-revealed "Exclusive: Pro-Trump Group, Turning Point USA, Has Finances Revealed"] ''[[Daily Beast]]''</ref>
In addition to the seed money from billionaire [[Foster Friess]], the family foundation of [[Illinois]] Governor [[Bruce Rauner]] donated $100,000 to Turning Point in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20160109/bernard-schoenburg-rauners-foundation-gave-100000-to-group-developing-conservative-activists|title=Bernard Schoenburg: Rauner's foundation gave $100,000 to group developing conservative activists - The State Journal-Register|website=Sj-r.com|access-date=February 19, 2017}}</ref>
The ''[[International Business Times]]'' reported the following donors to Turning Point USA: Ed Uihlein Foundation, the [[Rauner Family Foundation]], the [[Foglia Foundation]], Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus’ foundation, [[Henry and Lynde Bradley Foundation]], the [[Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation]], named after the in-laws of current Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, Foster Friess, Mike Leven, a TPUSA adviser and former CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corporation, Illinois-based finance and Waste Management executive [[Peter Huizenga]], Chicago jeweler and TPUSA adviser Mike Miller, Dunn's Foundation for the Advancement of Right Thinking, The Einhorn Family Foundation. TPUSA's event sponsors have included Prager University, the [[National Rifle Association]], the [[Heritage Foundation]], the Job Creators Network, and the Leadership Institute and Alliance Defending Freedom.<ref>Kotch, Alex (November 28, 2017) [https://www.ibtimes.com/political-capital/who-funds-conservative-campus-group-turning-point-usa-donors-revealed-2620325 "Who Funds Conservative Campus Group Turning Point USA? Donors Revealed"] ''[[International Business Times]] ''</ref>
In ''[[The New Yorker]]'', Jane Mayer reported that Turning Point's budget was $8 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/a-conservative-nonprofit-that-seeks-to-transform-college-campuses-faces-allegations-of-racial-bias-and-illegal-campaign-activity|title=Allegations of Racial Bias and Illegal Campaign Activity at a Conservative Nonprofit That Seeks to Transform College Campuses|first=Jane|last=Mayer|date=December 21, 2017|website=Newyorker.com}}</ref>
Turning Point USA has donated $1.8 million to the Turning Point Endowment, an affiliated organization.<ref name=beastrevealed />
==Professor Watchlist==
First appearing on November 21, 2016, Turning Point USA also operates a website called [[Professor Watchlist]].<ref name="auto1"/> Kirk has said the site is "dedicated to documenting and exposing college professors who discriminate against conservative students, promote anti-American values, and advance leftist propaganda in the classroom."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.snopes.com/news/2016/11/22/professor-watchlist-monitors-anti-american-leftist-educators/|title='Professor Watchlist' Monitors 'Anti-American,' 'Leftist' Educators|website=[[Snopes.com]]|last=LaCapria|first=Kim|date=November 22, 2016}}</ref> Tips are accepted from the public, and more than 250 professors are currently listed.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/02/professor-watchlist-website-academic|title=Professor Watchlist website elicits both fear and ridicule in US universities|last=Sidahmed|first=Mazin|date=December 2, 2016|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=December 2, 2016}}</ref> The list contains many inaccuracies and includes professors listed for things they didn't exactly say or do and others listed for being rude to students or for making "clever remarks" about Trump.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/04/06/trump-young-conservatives-college-charlie-kirk-turning-point-usa-217829|title=Trump's Man on Campus|work=POLITICO Magazine|access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref>
The website has been criticized for using [[surveillance]] type propaganda to manipulate ideas of truth, equality, and freedom.<ref name=threat/><ref>{{Citation|last=Schuman|first=Rebecca|title=Oh Good, a "Professor Watch List"|date=November 23, 2016|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/education/2016/11/professor_watchlist_is_a_grotesque_catalog_of_left_leaning_academics.html|publisher=''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]''|access-date=November 28, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Flaherty|first=Colleen|title=Being Watched|date=November 22, 2016|url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/11/22/new-website-seeks-register-professors-accused-liberal-bias-and-anti-american-values|publisher=[[Inside Higher Ed]]|access-date=November 28, 2016}}</ref> Critics have compared Professor Watchlist to the actions of U.S. Senator [[Joseph McCarthy]], who tried to publicly identify American citizens as Communists and Communist sympathizers in the 1950s.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.voanews.com/a/conservative-us-website-targets-professors/3643967.html|title=Conservative US Website Targets Professors|last=Musto|first=Pete|newspaper=VOA|access-date=February 19, 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.pasadenaweekly.com/2017/01/05/the-new-blacklist/|title=The New Blacklist|date=January 5, 2017|newspaper=[[Pasadena Weekly]]|access-date=February 19, 2017}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote that it was "a threat to academic freedom,"<ref name=threat/> while ''[[Salon (website)|Salon]]'' commented that it was "a sign of the stupidity of the post truth era."<ref name="Salon">{{cite web|last1=McClennan|first1=Sofia A.|title=Academic witch hunts are back: The new McCarthyism, a sign of the stupidity of the post-truth era|url=http://www.salon.com/2016/12/04/academic-witch-hunts-are-back-the-new-mccarthyism-a-sign-of-the-stupidity-of-the-post-truth-era/|website=Salon.com|accessdate=January 30, 2018|date=December 4, 2016}}</ref>
In May 2017, [[Northern Arizona University]] criminology professor Luis Fernandez said Turning Point surveillance of him had led to multiple threats.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fronterasdesk.org/content/10655/conservative-website-targets-nau-professors-over-student-complaints|title=Conservative Website Targets NAU Professors Over Student Complaints|website=Fronteras Desk|access-date=September 6, 2017}}</ref> In ''[[The Harvard Crimson]]'', [[Harvard University]] Professor [[Danielle Allen]] also said she had been threatened after being targeted by Charlie Kirk and Turning Point.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2017/5/1/allen-report-frontline-speech/|title=A Report From the Frontlines of the Free Speech Wars {{!}} Opinion {{!}} The Harvard Crimson|website=Thecrimson.com|language=en|access-date=September 6, 2017}}</ref>
==Denial of recognition on campus==
At [[Drake University]], Turning Point was denied recognition as an official student organization based on student senate concerns that the organization has "a hateful record," "aggressive marketing" and "an unethical privacy concern."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/2016/04/26/conservative-students-drake-challenge-denial-organizaiton/83565586/|title=Conservative students at Drake challenge denial as an organization|newspaper=[[Des Moines Register]]|access-date=April 27, 2016}}</ref>
At [[Hagerstown Community College]], a student's attempt to start a Turning Point group was initially blocked when the school said the organization duplicated an existing group. The student's lawsuit led to the school revising its policy on student organizations, clarifying that school funded groups will be denied if they duplicate existing groups while unfunded groups face no such restriction.<ref>Baker, Tamela. ''Herald-Mail Media'', May 12, 2016. "[http://www.heraldmailmedia.com/news/local/hagerstown-community-college-settles-suit-over-political-club/article_dd2ce210-1899-11e6-82fc-ef5fc9483519.html Hagerstown Community College settles suit over political club]". Accessed August 13, 2016.</ref>
In February 2017, [[Santa Clara University]]'s student government voted to deny recognition for Turning Point as a campus organization.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://thesantaclara.org/boiling-point-over-turning-point/#.WKIZnYWcG00|title=Boiling Point Over Turning Point|newspaper=The Santa Clara|access-date=February 19, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> As of March 2017, this decision was overturned by the Vice Provost for Student Life, and Turning Point has been recognized as a registered student organization.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scu.edu/vice-provost-for-student-life/statement-on-turning-point-usa/|title=Information on Turning Point USA - Vice Provost for Student Life - Santa Clara University|last=University|first=Santa Clara|website=Scu.edu|language=en|access-date=March 7, 2017}}</ref>
[[Wartburg College]]'s student senate voted to deny Turning Point USA recognition in late November. The chapter was forced to make changes to its constitution after initially being denied approval.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wartburgtrumpet.com/turning-point-usa-student-organization-denied/|title=Turning Point USA student organization denied|date=December 2, 2017|website=Wartburgtrumpet.com|accessdate=February 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.kwwl.com/story/37018580/2017/12/Thursday/turning-point-usa-voted-against-at-wartburg-college |title="Turning Point USA" voted against at Wartburg College |date=December 7, 2017 |work=KWWL |access-date=June 4, 2018 |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180604125033/http://www.kwwl.com/story/37018580/2017/12/Thursday/turning-point-usa-voted-against-at-wartburg-college|archive-date=June 4, 2018}}</ref>
The Executive Board of the student union of [[Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute]] also voted on January 18, 2018 to deny the Turning Point USA chapter status as an officially recognized student organization.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Burns|first1=Darby|title=Turning Point denied|url=https://poly.rpi.edu/2018/01/24/turning-point-denied/|work=The Rensselaer Polytechnic|date=January 24, 2018}}</ref>
==Involvement in student government==
Turning Point USA has been involved in influencing [[student government]] elections at a number of colleges and universities.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=http://www.chronicle.com/article/Inside-a-Stealth-Plan-for/240008|title=Inside a Stealth Plan for Political Influence|last=Vasquez|first=Michael|date=May 7, 2017|work=The Chronicle of Higher Education|access-date=September 6, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0009-5982}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Universities that have been targeted by this effort have included [[Ohio State University]], the [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]], and the [[University of Maryland]].
These claims led to conservative candidates at the University of Maryland withdrawing from student elections after failing to report assistance from Turning Point.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dbknews.com/2017/04/17/turning-point-umd-college-campuses|title=Conservative nonprofit linked to Unity Party has chapters at more than 1,000 universities|date=April 16, 2017|last=Snurr|first=Carrie|website=The Diamondback|access-date=September 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/research/2017/03/29/conservative-dark-money-groups-infiltrating-campus-politics/215822#tpusa|title=The Conservative Dark-Money Groups Infiltrating Campus Politics|last=Vogel|first=Pam|date=March 17, 2017|publisher=Media Matters for America |access-date=November 24, 2017}}</ref>
A private brochure, handed out only to Turning Point donors, highlighted the organization's alleged strategy to take over student governments at universities across the country, and included a list of every Turning Point-supported student who was elected to student government positions in the year 2017.<ref name=":0" />
Turning Point said that it had helped more than 50 conservatives win elections to become student-body presidents.<ref name=":1" /> However, when ''Politico'' looked into Turning Point's claims, it found the "success rate to be considerably overstated. In fact, some of the students that Turning Point USA claimed to have backed flatly condemned the organization and said they'd never spoken to anyone who works for it."<ref name=":1" />
==Involvement in 2016 presidential election==
In addition, several former employees and student volunteers for Turning Point claimed they had witnessed collusion between high-ranking Turning Point employees – including Kirk himself and top advisor Ginni Thomas – and the presidential campaigns of both [[Ted Cruz]] and [[Marco Rubio]]. The interactions included Kirk coordinating via email with two officials at a pro-Cruz [[Political action committee|super PAC]] to send student volunteers to work for the PAC in [[South Carolina]], as well as two students being requested by Thomas herself, via voicemail, to distribute over 200 Cruz placards in [[Wisconsin]].<ref name=":0"/>
A former employee for Turning Point, who had been based in Florida, alleged that Turning Point had given the personal information of over 700 student supporters to an employee with Rubio's presidential campaign.<ref name=":0"/>
In October 2016, Kirk participated in a [[Fox News]] event along with [[Donald Trump Jr.]], [[Eric Trump]], and [[Lara Trump]] that had a pro-[[Donald Trump]] tone. A Turning Point staff member wrote on Facebook that students who attended the event would have their expenses covered. The event led tax experts to say the organization's conduct may have violated its tax-exempt status, a charge disputed by Turning Point.<ref name=auto/>
==Controversies==
In 2016, Turning Point at [[Grand Valley State University]] filed a lawsuit against the trustees of the school. The complainants asked the court to prohibit enforcement of GVSU's Speech Zone policy and declare it a violation of the students' 1st and 14th Amendment freedoms. They have since reached a settlement.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2017/03/gvsu_reaches_settlement_with_s.html|title=GVSU reaches settlement with student group alleging it restricted free speech|work=MLive.com|access-date=February 7, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>
In December 2016, Turning Point falsely quoted [[Nancy Pelosi]] in a Facebook post as saying: "Employers cutting hours is a good thing. It then gives that person time to pursue their dreams and passions."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2016/dec/12/turning-point-usa/facebook-image-revives-made-claim-nancy-pelosi-pra/ |title=Group spreads fake quote from Pelosi about working hours |newspaper=@politifact|access-date=February 19, 2017|language=en}}</ref>
In May 2017, [[DePaul University]] refused to allow Turning Point to post "Gay Lives Matter" posters on campus. Matt Lamb, a spokesperson for Turning Point, said that the action by DePaul was an infringement of free speech rights.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://depauliaonline.com/2017/05/22/university-rejects-gay-lives-matter-poster-promoting-guest-speaker/|title=University rejects Gay Lives Matter poster promoting guest speaker • The DePaulia|date=May 22, 2017|website=The DePaulia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804052949/http://depauliaonline.com/2017/05/22/university-rejects-gay-lives-matter-poster-promoting-guest-speaker/|archive-date=August 4, 2017}}</ref>
In September 2017, a [[University of Nebraska]] lecturer was reassigned after she received threats stemming from a video posted online that showed her confronting a student recruiting for TPUSA.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ksl.com/?nid=157&sid=45726911&title=nebraska-lecturer-reassigned-after-student-confrontation|title=Nebraska lecturer reassigned after student confrontation {{!}} KSL.com|access-date=September 8, 2017|language=en}}</ref>
In October 2017, several Turning Point student members at [[Kent State University]] conducted a protest against campus "safe space" culture, which involved members dressing up in diapers as babies.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/tpusa-diaper-protest-kent-state/|title=Conservative group dons diapers to protest safe spaces at Kent State|date=October 19, 2017|work=The Daily Dot|accessdate=November 23, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chronicle.com/blogs/ticker/a-bunch-of-conservative-students-dressed-up-as-babies-to-protest-safe-spaces/120706|title=A Bunch of Conservative Students Dressed Up as Babies to Protest Safe Spaces – The Ticker - Blogs - The Chronicle of Higher Education|website=Chronicle.com|language=en-US|accessdate=November 23, 2017}}</ref> Following widespread ridicule on social media, the student-run publication ''KentWired.com'' reported that the Turning Point chapter at Kent State had disbanded.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.kentwired.com/latest_updates/article_150da234-1053-11e8-a675-0b661d4f9580.html|title=Kent State chapter of Turning Point to disband|last=Gall|first=Addie|work=KentWired.com|access-date=February 13, 2018|language=en}}</ref>
In February 2018, the [[University of South Florida]] chapter of TPUSA was dissolved when it was discovered that their president, Aida Vazquez-Soto, was working with a pro-Palestinian group. Vazquez-Soto said 'Something is clearly wrong with an organization that felt that somehow by silencing me they could deal with the problem at hand.' <ref>[http://www.usforacle.com/news/view.php/1032038/Rumors-lead-to-shake-up-of-TPUSA] {{dead link|date=February 2019}}</ref>
In June 2018, conservative radio talk show host [[Joe Walsh (Illinois politician)|Joe Walsh]] resigned from the TPUSA board because Charlie Kirk was too closely tied to Donald Trump. Walsh said that "It’s so important to not be beholden to politicians, but to be beholden to the issues ... When Charlie went to work for Trump, that crossed that line. You can’t advance Trump and advance these issues."<ref>Keilman, John (October 20, 2018) [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-charlie-kirk-turning-point-campus-conservatives-profile-20181019-story.html "Before Trump and Kanye became fans, Charlie Kirk battled 'Marxist' high school teachers in Chicago's suburbs"] ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''</ref>
In October 2018, the Miami New Times reported that TPUSA members at [[Florida International University]] shared jokes "about watching underage cartoon [[pornography]] and deporting [[Latina]] women, and, in the most repugnant case, share racist '[[Pepe the Frog]]' memes showing Syrian men raping a white Swedish woman at gunpoint."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/turning-point-usa-fiu-chapter-shares-racist-sexist-pepe-memes-10827433|title=Chats Show FIU Turning Point USA Members Sharing Racist Memes and Rape Jokes|first=Jerry|last=Iannelli|date=October 16, 2018|newspaper=[[Miami New Times]]|accessdate=February 15, 2019}}</ref>
In November 2018, [[Fox News]] correspondent Rick Leventhal cut off Turning Point USA's Anna Paulina after she compared former Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] to the disease [[herpes]].<ref>Croucher, Shane (November 23, 2018) [https://www.newsweek.com/video-fox-news-guest-attacks-hillary-clinton-she-wont-go-away-shes-herpes-1228486 "Fox News Guest Attacks Hillary Clinton—'She Won’t Go Away, She’s Like Herpes'] ''[[Newsweek]]''</ref>
''[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]'' reported in February 2019 that [[Benny Johnson]] – who was fired from [[BuzzFeed]] in 2014 for multiple instances of [[plagiarism]], and later let go by [[Independent Journal Review]] for multiple problems, including plagiarism – was joining TPUSA as their "Chief Creative Officer".<ref>Kirell, Andrew (February 6, 2019) [https://www.thedailybeast.com/serial-plagiarist-benny-johnson-joining-charlie-kirks-turning-point-usa "Serial Plagiarist Benny Johnson Joining Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA"] ''[[The Daily Beast]]''</ref>
=== Instances of racism ===
In December 2017, ''[[The New Yorker]]'' published an article by [[Jane Mayer]] showcasing interviews with former minority members of the organization. Former staff members said they witnessed widespread discrimination against minorities in the group, and stated "the organization was a difficult workplace and rife with tension, some of it racial."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/a-conservative-nonprofit-that-seeks-to-transform-college-campuses-faces-allegations-of-racial-bias-and-illegal-campaign-activity|title=Allegations of Racial Bias and Illegal Campaign Activity at a Conservative Nonprofit That Seeks to Transform College Campuses|last=Mayer|first=Jane|date=December 21, 2017|url-access=limited|work=The New Yorker|access-date=December 23, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Conservative Campus Org Turning Point USA 'Rife' With Racism, Probably Illegal Campaign Activity|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/conservative-campus-org-turning-point-usa-rife-with-racism-possibly-illegal-campaign-activity|newspaper=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=December 22, 2017|accessdate=December 23, 2017}}</ref> One former employee, an African-American woman, said she was the only person of color working for the organization at the time she was hired in 2014; she then said that she was fired on [[Martin Luther King Jr. Day]]. The article also revealed text messages sent by Crystal Clanton – who was a leading figure in the organization and served as the group's national field director for five years – to another Turning Point employee saying "i hate black people. Like fuck them all . . . I hate blacks. End of story." Kirk responded to the revelations by saying that "Turning Point assessed the situation and took decisive action within 72 hours of being made aware of the issue."<ref name=":0" /> The article also noted that Kirk had explicitly praised Clanton in his book ''Time for a Turning Point'', saying that she had been "the best hire we ever could have made," and that "Turning Point needs more Crystals; so does America."<ref name=":0" />
In an article titled "Turning Point USA Keeps Accidentally Hiring Racists," ''[[HuffPost]]'' reported that the woman hired to replace Crystal Clanton had a history of using racial slurs, particularly against African-Americans, on [[Twitter]] before deleting her account. In response to the reports, Kirk referred to the individual in question as "a former employee" in his official statement (without clarifying when she had been fired), and Turning Point issued an internal memo announcing that all current and new staff would face social media background checks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/turning-point-usa-racist-tweets_us_5ad65b06e4b029ebe01ed1ac|title=Turning Point USA Keeps Accidentally Hiring Racists|date=April 25, 2018|work=[[HuffPost]]|first=Ashley|last=Feinberg|accessdate=May 1, 2018}}</ref>
Charlie Kirk has said Turning Point USA has no relationship with [[alt-right]] groups.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/education/2016/11/professor_watchlist_is_a_grotesque_catalog_of_left_leaning_academics.html|title=Oh Good, a "Professor Watch List"|date=November 23, 2016|journal=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|first=Rebecca|last=Schuman}}</ref> In 2017, Turning Point chapters organized campus visits by former Breitbart editor [[Milo Yiannopoulos]] to the [[University of Colorado Boulder]] and [[Miami University (Ohio)]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.timescall.com/lifestyles/ci_30740081/2-000-student-fees-going-toward-milo-yiannopoulos|title=$2,000 in student fees going toward Milo Yiannopoulos visit to CU Boulder|access-date=February 19, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cuindependent.com/2017/01/26/turning-point-usa-defends-decision-invite-milo-yiannopoulos-cu-boulder/|title=Turning Point USA defends decision to invite Milo Yiannopoulos to CU Boulder|last=CUIndependent|date=January 26, 2017|website=CU Independent|access-date=February 19, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://thesantaclara.org/boiling-point-over-turning-point/#.WKJJ5IWcG00|title=Boiling Point Over Turning Point|newspaper=The Santa Clara|access-date=February 19, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2018, The [[Southern Poverty Law Center]]'s [[Hate Watch]] documented TPUSA's links to [[white supremacists]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018/02/16/turning-point-usas-blooming-romance-alt-right|title=Turning Point USA's blooming romance with the alt-right|website=Southern Poverty Law Center|accessdate=February 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018/06/15/turning-point-usa-accused-%E2%80%98boosting-their-numbers-racists%E2%80%99-long-established-conservative|title=Turning Point USA accused of ‘boosting their numbers with racists’ by long-established conservative student group|website=Southern Poverty Law Center|accessdate=February 15, 2019}}</ref>
===Conflicts with other conservative organizations===
In May 2018, an internal memo written by [[Young America's Foundation]] (YAF) was leaked, in which YAF leadership "warned" its members to not associate with Turning Point. The memo accused the organization of various improprieties such as exaggerating the number of Turning Point chapters and activities around the country, taking credit for other organizations' events, increasing attendance at its own events by "boosting numbers with racists & Nazi sympathizers," and sponsoring "humiliating" campus activism events, in reference to the Kent State diaper incident.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/Leaked-Memo-From-Conservative/243688|title=Leaked Memo From Conservative Group Cautions Students to Stay Away From Turning Point USA|work=[[The Chronicle of Higher Education]]|author=Michael Vasquez|date=June 15, 2018|accessdate=August 21, 2018}}</ref> In addition, the YAF memo included another memo on the subject circulated internally by [[Young Americans for Liberty]], which accused Turning Point of illegally obtaining YAL's email list and soliciting its students without their permission, which Turning Point only stopped doing after being issued a cease-and-desist order.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yaf.org/news/yaf-memo-advising-our-students-about-tpusa/|title=YAF Memo: Advising Our Students About TPUSA|work=[[Young America's Foundation]]|author=Kimberly Begg|date=May 25, 2018|accessdate=August 21, 2018}}</ref>
After the memo was leaked in June 2018, a representative for Turning Point criticized Young America's Foundation in a statement to ''[[The Chronicle of Higher Education]]'', accusing the group of "abandoning the 'Reagan Rule'" that "Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican." Although Charlie Kirk did not directly respond to the memo, he posted on Twitter that he wished "some conservatives fought the left as hard as they fight people who support President Trump." Turning Point's Communications Director [[Candace Owens]] directly responded to the memo, saying she was "truly speechless" over the memo supposedly attacking Kirk for his lack of college experience. A former employee stated on Twitter that "TPUSA activists do some incredible work. It’s a shame the face for their work has become constant, EXTREME inflation of numbers to mislead donors. They have an opportunity to turn this around, and they should."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/Leaked-Memo-From-Conservative/243688|title=Leaked Memo From Conservative Group Cautions Students to Stay Away From Turning Point USA|newspaper=[[The Chronicle of Higher Education]]|date=June 15, 2018|first=Michael|last=Vasquez}}</ref>
In the [[Hillsdale College]] Daily Collegian, opinions editor Kaylee McGhee, wrote an article titled "Charlie Kirk and TPUSA aren’t conservative, as real conservatives already knew." In the article, McGhee referred to TPUSA as a "reactionary cancer" rather than a group supporting real conservatism that is "supposed to preserve the timeless principles of liberty and equality for all." <ref>{{cite web|url=http://hillsdalecollegian.com/2018/06/charlie-kirk-tpusa-arent-conservative-real-conservatives-already-knew/|title=Charlie Kirk and TPUSA aren’t conservative, as real conservatives already knew|first=Kaylee|last=McGhee|date=June 21, 2018|website=Hilldadalecollegian.com|accessdate=February 15, 2019}}</ref>
In late October 2018, ''[[The Daily Beast]]'' reported that [[Lucian Wintrich]] and other conservatives blamed Charlie Kirk and [[Candace Owens]] for losing [[Kanye West]] as an ally of President Trump.<ref>Sommer, Will (October 31, 2018) [https://www.thedailybeast.com/pro-trump-activists-blame-charlie-kirk-and-candace-owens-for-losing-kanye-west "Pro-Trump Activists Blame Charlie Kirk and Candace Owens for Losing Kanye West"] ''[[The Daily Beast]]''/</ref> Since then, West has re-affirmed his support for President Trump.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pagesix.com/2019/01/01/kanye-west-wants-everyone-to-know-hes-still-team-trump/?_ga=2.27388798.394705930.1546823176-138486764.1546823176|title=Kanye West wants everyone to know he's still team Trump|date=January 1, 2019|access-date=January 6, 2019|publisher=''[[Page Six]]''}}</ref>
===Internal dissension===
After TPUSA's annual "Student Action Summit" in late December 2018, dissidents within the organization, headed by conservative activist Kevin Martin, formed "Heal Our Voice", a group critical of Kirk's leadership of Turning Point USA. One member of the group told ''[[The Daily Beast]]'' that "Charlie Kirk can be a little bit of a snowflake — or a lot a bit of a snowflake." Other complaints concerned sexual harassment and assault at TPUSA events.<ref>Sommer, Will (January 8, 2019) [https://www.thedailybeast.com/turning-point-faces-internal-backlash-rude-memes "Turning Point Dissidents Turn on 'Snowflake' Founder and Fox News Darling Charlie Kirk"] ''[[The Daily Beast]]''</ref>
== Founder Charlie Kirk ==
[[File:Charlie Kirk by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg|thumb|upright|The group's founder, Charlie Kirk]]
The group's founder and current leader, Charlie Kirk, grew up in [[Prospect Heights, Illinois]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Kirk, Charlie, and Hamachek, Brent|title=Time for a Turning Point: Setting a Course Toward Free Markets and Limited Government for Future Generations|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=838mDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=%22charlie+kirk%22+%22PRospect+heights%22&source=bl&ots=hj6VPuzx8q&sig=zaJYp1kUnpHy4Moz09-a4yNOpPY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj3w4bwiqHYAhUmxlQKHW9dB_oQ6AEIQjAG#v=onepage&q=%22charlie%20kirk%22%20%22PRospect%20heights%22&f=false|publisher=Simon and Schuster|year=2016|page=4}}</ref> Kirk became politically active during high school. In his junior year of school in 2010, Kirk volunteered for the successful U.S. Senate campaign of Illinois Republican [[Mark Kirk]] (to whom he is not related).<ref name="perfect-storm">{{cite news|title=Perfect storm launches 19-year-old Wheeling native into political punditry|url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130429/news/704299942/|work=Daily Herald|date=April 29, 2013}}</ref>
In 2012 when he was a high school senior, Kirk wrote an essay for ''[[Breitbart News]]'' alleging liberal bias in high school textbooks leading to an appearance on the [[Fox Business Network]]. At a subsequent speaking engagement at [[Benedictine University]]'s "Youth Empowerment Day," Kirk met Bill Montgomery, a retiree more than 50 years his senior, who was then a [[Tea Party movement|Tea Party]]-backed legislative candidate. Montgomery encouraged Kirk to get engaged in political activism full-time. He subsequently founded Turning Point USA. At the [[2012 Republican National Convention]], Kirk met [[Foster Friess]], a prominent Republican donor, and persuaded him to finance the organization.<ref name="atlantic">{{cite news|author=Nelson, Rebecca|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/03/the-21-year-old-becoming-a-major-player-in-conservative-politics/451110/|title=The 21-Year-Old Becoming a Major Player in Conservative Politics|date=March 25, 2015|newspaper=[[The Atlantic Monthly]]}}</ref>
According to Kirk, he dreamed of attending the [[United States Military Academy]] in [[West Point, New York]], but his application was rejected.<ref name=":1" /> According to ''[[The New Yorker]]'', Kirk said "the slot he considered his went to 'a far less-qualified candidate of a different gender and a different persuasion" whose test scores he claimed he knew. Kirk later said he was being sarcastic when he made the comment.<ref name="new yorker">{{cite news|author=Mayer, Jane|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/a-conservative-nonprofit-that-seeks-to-transform-college-campuses-faces-allegations-of-racial-bias-and-illegal-campaign-activity|title=A Conservative Nonprofit That Seeks to Transform College Campuses Faces Allegations of Racial Bias and Illegal Campaign Activity|date=December 21, 2017|newspaper=[[The New Yorker]]}}</ref>
Kirk took general education classes at [[Harper College]], a local [[community college]]. He founded Turning Point USA while studying at Harper.<ref name="perfect-storm"/>
Kirk addressed the [[2016 Republican National Convention]]. In an interview with ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' magazine during the convention, Kirk said that while he "was not the world's biggest Donald Trump fan," he would vote for him, and that Trump's candidacy made Turning Point's mission more difficult.<ref name="Wired RNC">{{cite news|title=At the Republican Convention, Millennials Search for Signs of the Future|url=https://www.wired.com/2016/07/republican-convention-millennials-search-signs-future/|work=Wired|date=July 20, 2016}}</ref> ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]'' described Kirk as leading the "millennial assault" for [[Donald Trump]]'s 2016 presidential campaign.<ref name="DMN">{{cite news|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2016/11/11/two-young-dallas-guns-helped-deliver-white-house-trump|title=How two Dallas young guns helped deliver the White House to Trump|date=November 11, 2016|work=Dallas Morning News}}</ref>
Kirk wrote the 2018 book ''Campus Battlefield: How Conservatives Can WIN the Battle on Campus and Why It Matters''. In a review for ''[[The Weekly Standard]]'', Adam Rubenstein described the book as a "hot mess", "nothing more a marketing pitch for TPUSA" and said the "thin" book was "stuffed with reprintings of his tweets and quotes from others."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.weeklystandard.com/adam-rubenstein/charlie-kirks-book-campus-battlefield-is-a-joke|title=Charlie Kirk's ''Campus Battlefield'' Is a Hot Mess|date=2018-10-10|work=The Weekly Standard|access-date=2018-10-10|language=en}}</ref>
In 2018, Kirk praised Kanye West for getting involved in politics and advocating for President Trump. Later that year when [[Taylor Swift]] endorsed a Democrat in the Tennessee Senate race, Kirk condemned her endorsement and told her to "stay away from politics."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-guests-want-taylor-swift-to-shut-up-but-love-kanyes-maga-embrace|title=Fox Guests Want Taylor Swift to Shut Up, but Love Kanye’s MAGA Embrace|last=Wilstein|first=Matt|date=2018-10-08|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=2018-10-11|language=en}}</ref> Kirk suggested, without evidence, that Swift had not written her endorsement.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://uk.businessinsider.com/charlie-kirk-fox-and-friends-says-taylor-swift-didnt-write-statement-endorsing-democratic-politicians-2018-10?r=US&IR=T|title=Conservative activist says on 'Fox and Friends' that Taylor Swift didn't write her own Instagram post endorsing Democratic politicians|work=Business Insider|access-date=2018-10-15|language=en}}</ref> Kirk said it was "ridiculous" for Swift to accuse Republican [[Marsha Blackburn]] of being hostile to LGBT rights and women's rights; Blackburn has a well-documented history of anti-LGBT positions, which Swift cited in her endorsement.<ref name=":3" />
In December 2018, Kirk falsely claimed that protesters in [[Yellow vests movement|France's "yellow vests" movement]] chanted "We want Trump." Kirk's false claims were later repeated by President Trump. The videos in support of the claim were from a far-right protest in London, not from the yellow vest movement in France.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://factcheck.afp.com/no-french-protesters-are-not-chanting-we-want-trump|title=No, French protesters are not chanting, 'We want Trump'|date=2018-12-04|website=AFP Fact Check|language=en|access-date=2018-12-08}}</ref> He also falsely claimed that Cuba has 15 years lower life expectancy than the United States, while in fact it has a higher life expectancy, and that 85% of all jobs in the private sector in USA come from small businesses, while that number is less than 50%.<ref>{{cite web|title=Debunking Charlie Kirk's Arguments At Politicon 2018 In Debate vs Hasan Piker|author=Anton Dybal|url=https://askepticalhuman.com/politics/2018/10/23/debunking-charlie-kirks-arguments-at-politicon-2018-in-debate-vs-hasan-piker|work=Askepticalhuman.com}}</ref>
Cultural critic [[James Wolcott]] has described Kirk as a [[Tucker Carlson]] "Mini-Me".<ref>[[James Wolcott|Wolcott, James]] (February 6, 2019) [https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2019/02/james-wolcott-on-the-shelf-life-of-a-deplorable "James Wolcott on the Shelf Life of a Deplorable"] ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]''</ref>
==Turning Point UK==
'''Turning Point UK''' ('''TPUK''') is a British offshoot of Turning Point USA,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2019/02/07/backlash-against-turning-point-uk-rather-proves-point-hard-conservative/|title=The backlash against Turning Point UK rather proves its point; it's hard being a conservative on campus|last=Grant|first=Madeline|date=7 February 2019|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=7 February 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref name="guardian-walker">{{cite news|first1=Peter|last1=Walker|accessdate=4 February 2019|title=Tory MPs back youth group with apparent links to US far right|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/04/tory-mps-back-rightwing-youth-group-turning-point-uk|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=4 February 2019|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name="independent-dearden">{{cite news|accessdate=2 February 2019|title=Tory MPs voice support for new UK branch of ‘sinister’ right-wing US group|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/turning-point-uk-jacob-rees-mogg-conservative-right-wing-group-launch-tory-a8762351.html|date=4 February 2019|newspaper=[[The Independent]]}}</ref> set up to challenge [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]] political ideology perceived to be dominant in UK schools, colleges and universities.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kindred|first=Alahna|title=''NO TURNING BACK What is Turning Point UK, does Jacob Rees-Mogg support it and why are they controversial?''|url=https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8350984/what-is-turning-point-uk-does-jacob-rees-mogg-support-it-and-why-are-they-controversial/|date=4 February 2019|work=[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]|accessdate=5 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|accessdate=5 February 2019|title=Turning Point UK May Make Politics On Campus More Bitter And Polarised Than Ever Before|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/turning-point-uk_uk_5c5610dce4b023e1bae3de0e|date=5 February 2019|website=[[HuffPost]]}}</ref><ref name="cherwell-merwe">{{cite news|first=Ben|last=van der Merwe|accessdate=5 February 2019|title=Right-wing dark money comes to Oxford student politics|url=http://cherwell.org/2019/01/28/right-wing-dark-money-comes-to-oxford-student-politics/|newspaper=[[Cherwell (newspaper)|Cherwell]]|date=28 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|accessdate=4 February 2019|title=The wrong Turning Point|url=https://spectator.us/wrong-turning-point/|date=4 February 2019|newspaper=[[The Spectator|Spectator USA]]}}</ref><ref name="newstatesman">{{cite web|accessdate=4 February 2019|title=The UK launch of right-wing youth group Turning Point is going about as well as expected|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/media/2019/02/turning-point-uks-launch-memes-going-brilliantly-bad-you-expected|work=[[New Statesman]]}}</ref>
Turning Point UK's chairman is George Farmer<ref name="guardian-walker"/><ref name="independent-dearden"/> (fiance of Candace Owens)<ref name="thinkprogress"/> and it employs several staff.<ref name="cherwell-merwe"/>
The organisation claims it has chapters at the universities of [[University of Sussex|Sussex]], [[University of Oxford|Oxford]], [[University of St Andrews|St Andrews]], [[York University|York]], [[University of Warwick|Warwick]], [[University of Nottingham|Nottingham]], [[King's College London]], [[University College London]], the [[London School of Economics]] and the [[University of the Arts London]].<ref name="cherwell-merwe" /> Like Turning Point USA, it does not disclose the identities of its donors.<ref name="cherwell-merwe" />
The group was launched in December 2018<ref name="cherwell-merwe"/> by Kirk and Owens<ref name="thinkprogress" /><ref name="dailydot">{{cite web|accessdate=5 February 2019|title=Turning Point's UK launch beset by memes|url=https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/turning-point-uk-memes/|date=4 February 2019|website=[[The Daily Dot]]}}</ref> at the [[Royal Automobile Club]] in London.<ref name="cherwell-merwe" /> Among those attending the event were [[Andy Wigmore]], [[Paul Joseph Watson]] and [[James Delingpole]].<ref name="cherwell-merwe" /><ref name="independent-dearden" /> On the day of its social media launch in February 2019, MPs including [[Jacob Rees-Mogg]] and [[Priti Patel]] tweeted supportive messages for the organisation,<ref name="guardian-walker" /><ref name="independent-dearden" /> while it was marked for criticism by left-wing British newspapers and their supporters<ref name="independent-dearden"/><ref name=thinkprogress>{{cite web|last=Barnes|first=Luke|title=''Turning Point USA launches British chapter to rocky reception''|url=https://thinkprogress.org/pro-trump-student-group-turning-point-usa-is-branching-out-to-the-uk-5d6abe71384c/|date=4 February 2019|work=[[ThinkProgress]]|accessdate=5 February 2019}}</ref> and the launch of its Twitter account was sabotaged by multiple parody accounts, including a few created by a ‘left-leaning student’ calling himself ‘Skeptical Seventh’.<ref name="dailydot" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.indy100.com/article/turning-point-uk-right-wing-conservative-twitter-charlie-kirk-8762621|work=The Independent|title=Turning Point's UK Twitter launch has gotten off to an exceedingly bad start|first=Lowenna|last=Waters|date=5 February 2019|accessdate=6 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Gian|last=Volpicelli|title=How an army of farcical fakes ruined Turning Point UK's big day|url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/how-an-army-of-fakes-took-on-rightwing-organisation-turning-point-uk|work=[[Wired UK]]|date=6 February 2019|access-date=7 February 2019|issn=1357-0978|via=www.wired.co.uk}}</ref> There was also a protest from the charity [[Turning Point (charity)|Turning Point]] over potential confusion caused by similarities between the two names.<ref>{{cite news |title=The battle over Britain's newest student movement |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-47159137 |accessdate=9 February 2019 |work=BBC News |date=9 February 2019}}</ref>
Labour MP [[David Lammy]] has described Turning Point UK as evidence that “sinister forces are taking hold of our country” and that the Conservative Party “openly promotes hard-right, xenophobic bile”.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/right-wing-student-leader-charlie-kirk-will-tour-uk-universities-h223d32rd|title=Right-wing student leader Charlie Kirk will tour UK universities|last=Brown|first=David|date=6 February 2019|work=[[The Times]]|accessdate=6 February 2019|language=en|issn=0140-0460}}{{paywall}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
== External links ==
* {{official|https://www.tpusa.com/}}
[[Category:2012 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 2012]]
[[Category:501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations]]
[[Category:Conservative political advocacy groups in the United States]]
[[Category:Student political organizations in the United States]]
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox Organization
|image = Turning_Point_USA_logo.jpg
|image_size = 150px
|name = Turning Point USA
|formation = {{start date and age|2012|6|5}}
|type = Nonprofit student organization
|tax_id = 80-0835023
|purpose = Activism
|region_served = United States<br>Canada{{fact|date=February 2019}}<br>United Kingdom{{fact|date=February 2019}}
|leader_name = Charlie Kirk
|website = {{URL|https://www.tpusa.com}}
}}
'''Turning Point USA''' ('''TPUSA''') is an American [[right wing]], [[nonprofit organization]].<ref name="threat">{{Citation|last=Mele|first=Christopher|title=Professor Watchlist Is Seen as Threat to Academic Freedom|date=November 28, 2016|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/28/us/professor-watchlist-is-seen-as-threat-to-academic-freedom.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref name=spec>{{Cite web|url=http://columbiaspectator.com/news/2016/11/30/columbia-professor-targeted-watchlist-published-conservative-group|title=Columbia professor targeted on 'watchlist' published by conservative group - Columbia Daily Spectator|website=Columbiaspectator.com|access-date=September 6, 2017}}</ref>
Since 2016, Turning Point USA has maintained a [[Professor Watchlist]] that lists college professors it alleges discriminate against conservative students and advance left-wing propaganda in the classroom.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/12/01/new-conservative-watchlist-targets-professors-for-advancing-leftist-propaganda/|title=New conservative 'watch list' targets professors for advancing 'leftist propaganda'|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|access-date=February 19, 2017}}</ref> The organization has also secretly attempted to influence [[student government]] elections in an effort to "combat [[Liberalism in the United States|liberalism]] on college and university campuses".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chronicle.com/article/Inside-a-Stealth-Plan-for/240008|title=Inside a Stealth Plan for Political Influence|last=Vasquez|first=Michael|date=May 7, 2017|work=The Chronicle of Higher Education|access-date=September 8, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0009-5982}}</ref><ref>Kamenetz, Anya (April 4, 2018) [https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2018/04/04/590928008/professor-harassment "Professors Are Targets In Online Culture Wars; Some Fight Back"] [[NPR]]</ref>
In December 2017, former employees of the organization accused it of engaging in racist practices, as well as potentially illegal involvement in the [[United States presidential election, 2016|2016 presidential election]].<ref name=":0" />
==Formation and activities==
Charlie Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012, when he was 18 years old. At the [[2012 Republican National Convention]], Kirk met [[Foster Friess]], a prominent Republican donor, and persuaded him to finance the organization.<ref name="bloomberg">{{cite news|title=This Boy Wonder Is Building the Conservative MoveOn.org in an Illinois Garage|url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20150507/NEWS02/150509859/this-boy-wonder-is-building-a-conservative-moveon-org-in-a-lemont-garage|agency=Bloomberg News|date=May 7, 2015}}</ref><ref name="atlantic" /> Friess also serves on the organization's advisory council, alongside [[Ginni Thomas]], wife of [[US Supreme Court]] Justice [[Clarence Thomas]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tpusa.com/aboutus/advisory-council/|title=Advisory Council - Turning Point USA|website=Tpusa.com|language=en|access-date=September 6, 2017}}</ref>
Turning Point holds several annual national conferences, including the Young Women's Leadership Summit (YWLS)<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/17/us/politics/women-conservative-trump.html|title=At Conservative Women's Conference, a Safe Space for Trumpism|last=Herndon|first=Astead W.|access-date=June 17, 2018|language=en}}</ref> and the Young Latino Leadership Summit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tpusa.com/young-latino-leadership-summit/|title=Young Latino Leadership Summit|publisher=Turning Point USA}}</ref> The [[National Rifle Association]] was the headline sponsor of the YWLS in 2017 and 2018.<ref name=":2" /> According to ''The New York Times'', YWLS "styles itself as an alternative to a liberal culture of feminism that many Republicans characterize as oppressive" and had by 2018 "evolved into an ultra-Trumpian event complete with '[[Lock Her Up|lock her up]]' chants and vulgar T-shirts disparaging Hillary Clinton."<ref name=":2" /> Candace Owens, who days prior to the 2018 conference stirred controversy by saying "the entire premise of #[[Me Too movement|metoo]] is that women are stupid, weak, and inconsequential", was greeted with a standing ovation at the conference.<ref name=":2" />
Each of Turning Point's paid workers is supposed to meet a quota to make at least 1,500 student contacts per semester.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-05-07/conservative-boy-wonder|title=This Boy Wonder Is Building the Conservative MoveOn.org in an Illinois Garage|date=May 7, 2015|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|access-date=February 19, 2017}}</ref> Student volunteers have several different themes for promoting conservative ideas, including "The Healthcare Games," "Game of Loans," and "iCapitalism."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/politics/2016/april/turning-point-is-the-youth-vote-really-all-that-liberal|title=Turning Point: Is the Youth Vote Really All That Liberal?|website=Cbn.com (beta)|access-date=April 29, 2016}}</ref>
Turning Point USA is pro-military, pro-police, [[anti-feminist]], and [[Criticism of Islam|anti-Muslim]].<ref name="mediamatters.org">{{cite web|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2018/09/04/right-wing-media-exploit-death-nfl-player-turned-soldier-rebuke-colin-kaepernick/221186|title=Right-wing media exploit the death of an NFL player-turned-soldier to rebuke Colin Kaepernick|date=September 4, 2018|website=Media Matters for America|accessdate=February 15, 2019}}</ref> They support [[fossil fuels]] and the [[National Rifle Association]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/apr/07/charlie-kirk-turning-point-usa-universities-free-speech-debate|title=I went inside a rightwing safe space to find out the truth about universities - Cas Mudde|first=Cas|last=Mudde|date=April 7, 2018|accessdate=February 15, 2019|website=Theguardian.com}}</ref> and oppose black activists such as [[Black Lives Matter]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://cornellsun.com/2018/10/14/conservative-activist-charlie-kirk-brings-campus-clash-lecture-to-cornell/|title=Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk Brings ‘Campus Clash’ Lecture to Cornell|date=October 15, 2018|newspaper=[[The Cornell Daily Sun]]|accessdate=February 15, 2019}}</ref>
In February 2019, Turning Point established an internet presence in the United Kingdom,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/TPointUK|title=Turning Point UK (@TPointUK) - Twitter|website=Twitter.com|accessdate=February 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tpointuk.co.uk/|title=Turning Point UK|website=Turning Point UK|accessdate=February 15, 2019}}</ref> having previously expanded to Canada{{fact|date=February 2019}}.
== Finances ==
Turning Point's revenues were $78,890 in 2012, $443,859 in 2013, $2,052,060 in 2014, $4,319,220 in 2015, and $8,248,059 in 2016.<ref name="guidestar.org">Staff (May 6, 2016) [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2015/800/835/2015-800835023-0c9e9986-9.pdf "Turning Point USA: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax" (Form 990)] [[GuideStar]]</ref><ref name=beastrevealed>Markay, Lachlan (June 28, 2018) [https://www.thedailybeast.com/exclusive-pro-trump-group-turning-point-usa-has-finances-revealed "Exclusive: Pro-Trump Group, Turning Point USA, Has Finances Revealed"] ''[[Daily Beast]]''</ref>
In addition to the seed money from billionaire [[Foster Friess]], the family foundation of [[Illinois]] Governor [[Bruce Rauner]] donated $100,000 to Turning Point in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20160109/bernard-schoenburg-rauners-foundation-gave-100000-to-group-developing-conservative-activists|title=Bernard Schoenburg: Rauner's foundation gave $100,000 to group developing conservative activists - The State Journal-Register|website=Sj-r.com|access-date=February 19, 2017}}</ref>
The ''[[International Business Times]]'' reported the following donors to Turning Point USA: Ed Uihlein Foundation, the [[Rauner Family Foundation]], the [[Foglia Foundation]], Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus’ foundation, [[Henry and Lynde Bradley Foundation]], the [[Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation]], named after the in-laws of current Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, Foster Friess, Mike Leven, a TPUSA adviser and former CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corporation, Illinois-based finance and Waste Management executive [[Peter Huizenga]], Chicago jeweler and TPUSA adviser Mike Miller, Dunn's Foundation for the Advancement of Right Thinking, The Einhorn Family Foundation. TPUSA's event sponsors have included Prager University, the [[National Rifle Association]], the [[Heritage Foundation]], the Job Creators Network, and the Leadership Institute and Alliance Defending Freedom.<ref>Kotch, Alex (November 28, 2017) [https://www.ibtimes.com/political-capital/who-funds-conservative-campus-group-turning-point-usa-donors-revealed-2620325 "Who Funds Conservative Campus Group Turning Point USA? Donors Revealed"] ''[[International Business Times]] ''</ref>
In ''[[The New Yorker]]'', Jane Mayer reported that Turning Point's budget was $8 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/a-conservative-nonprofit-that-seeks-to-transform-college-campuses-faces-allegations-of-racial-bias-and-illegal-campaign-activity|title=Allegations of Racial Bias and Illegal Campaign Activity at a Conservative Nonprofit That Seeks to Transform College Campuses|first=Jane|last=Mayer|date=December 21, 2017|website=Newyorker.com}}</ref>
Turning Point USA has donated $1.8 million to the Turning Point Endowment, an affiliated organization.<ref name=beastrevealed />
==Professor Watchlist==
First appearing on November 21, 2016, Turning Point USA also operates a website called [[Professor Watchlist]].<ref name="auto1"/> Kirk has said the site is "dedicated to documenting and exposing college professors who discriminate against conservative students, promote anti-American values, and advance leftist propaganda in the classroom."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.snopes.com/news/2016/11/22/professor-watchlist-monitors-anti-american-leftist-educators/|title='Professor Watchlist' Monitors 'Anti-American,' 'Leftist' Educators|website=[[Snopes.com]]|last=LaCapria|first=Kim|date=November 22, 2016}}</ref> Tips are accepted from the public, and more than 250 professors are currently listed.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/02/professor-watchlist-website-academic|title=Professor Watchlist website elicits both fear and ridicule in US universities|last=Sidahmed|first=Mazin|date=December 2, 2016|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=December 2, 2016}}</ref> The list contains many inaccuracies and includes professors listed for things they didn't exactly say or do and others listed for being rude to students or for making "clever remarks" about Trump.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/04/06/trump-young-conservatives-college-charlie-kirk-turning-point-usa-217829|title=Trump's Man on Campus|work=POLITICO Magazine|access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref>
The website has been criticized for using [[surveillance]] type propaganda to manipulate ideas of truth, equality, and freedom.<ref name=threat/><ref>{{Citation|last=Schuman|first=Rebecca|title=Oh Good, a "Professor Watch List"|date=November 23, 2016|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/education/2016/11/professor_watchlist_is_a_grotesque_catalog_of_left_leaning_academics.html|publisher=''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]''|access-date=November 28, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Flaherty|first=Colleen|title=Being Watched|date=November 22, 2016|url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/11/22/new-website-seeks-register-professors-accused-liberal-bias-and-anti-american-values|publisher=[[Inside Higher Ed]]|access-date=November 28, 2016}}</ref> Critics have compared Professor Watchlist to the actions of U.S. Senator [[Joseph McCarthy]], who tried to publicly identify American citizens as Communists and Communist sympathizers in the 1950s.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.voanews.com/a/conservative-us-website-targets-professors/3643967.html|title=Conservative US Website Targets Professors|last=Musto|first=Pete|newspaper=VOA|access-date=February 19, 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.pasadenaweekly.com/2017/01/05/the-new-blacklist/|title=The New Blacklist|date=January 5, 2017|newspaper=[[Pasadena Weekly]]|access-date=February 19, 2017}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote that it was "a threat to academic freedom,"<ref name=threat/> while ''[[Salon (website)|Salon]]'' commented that it was "a sign of the stupidity of the post truth era."<ref name="Salon">{{cite web|last1=McClennan|first1=Sofia A.|title=Academic witch hunts are back: The new McCarthyism, a sign of the stupidity of the post-truth era|url=http://www.salon.com/2016/12/04/academic-witch-hunts-are-back-the-new-mccarthyism-a-sign-of-the-stupidity-of-the-post-truth-era/|website=Salon.com|accessdate=January 30, 2018|date=December 4, 2016}}</ref>
In May 2017, [[Northern Arizona University]] criminology professor Luis Fernandez said Turning Point surveillance of him had led to multiple threats.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fronterasdesk.org/content/10655/conservative-website-targets-nau-professors-over-student-complaints|title=Conservative Website Targets NAU Professors Over Student Complaints|website=Fronteras Desk|access-date=September 6, 2017}}</ref> In ''[[The Harvard Crimson]]'', [[Harvard University]] Professor [[Danielle Allen]] also said she had been threatened after being targeted by Charlie Kirk and Turning Point.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2017/5/1/allen-report-frontline-speech/|title=A Report From the Frontlines of the Free Speech Wars {{!}} Opinion {{!}} The Harvard Crimson|website=Thecrimson.com|language=en|access-date=September 6, 2017}}</ref>
==Denial of recognition on campus==
At [[Drake University]], Turning Point was denied recognition as an official student organization based on student senate concerns that the organization has "a hateful record," "aggressive marketing" and "an unethical privacy concern."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/2016/04/26/conservative-students-drake-challenge-denial-organizaiton/83565586/|title=Conservative students at Drake challenge denial as an organization|newspaper=[[Des Moines Register]]|access-date=April 27, 2016}}</ref>
At [[Hagerstown Community College]], a student's attempt to start a Turning Point group was initially blocked when the school said the organization duplicated an existing group. The student's lawsuit led to the school revising its policy on student organizations, clarifying that school funded groups will be denied if they duplicate existing groups while unfunded groups face no such restriction.<ref>Baker, Tamela. ''Herald-Mail Media'', May 12, 2016. "[http://www.heraldmailmedia.com/news/local/hagerstown-community-college-settles-suit-over-political-club/article_dd2ce210-1899-11e6-82fc-ef5fc9483519.html Hagerstown Community College settles suit over political club]". Accessed August 13, 2016.</ref>
In February 2017, [[Santa Clara University]]'s student government voted to deny recognition for Turning Point as a campus organization.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://thesantaclara.org/boiling-point-over-turning-point/#.WKIZnYWcG00|title=Boiling Point Over Turning Point|newspaper=The Santa Clara|access-date=February 19, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> As of March 2017, this decision was overturned by the Vice Provost for Student Life, and Turning Point has been recognized as a registered student organization.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scu.edu/vice-provost-for-student-life/statement-on-turning-point-usa/|title=Information on Turning Point USA - Vice Provost for Student Life - Santa Clara University|last=University|first=Santa Clara|website=Scu.edu|language=en|access-date=March 7, 2017}}</ref>
[[Wartburg College]]'s student senate voted to deny Turning Point USA recognition in late November. The chapter was forced to make changes to its constitution after initially being denied approval.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wartburgtrumpet.com/turning-point-usa-student-organization-denied/|title=Turning Point USA student organization denied|date=December 2, 2017|website=Wartburgtrumpet.com|accessdate=February 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.kwwl.com/story/37018580/2017/12/Thursday/turning-point-usa-voted-against-at-wartburg-college |title="Turning Point USA" voted against at Wartburg College |date=December 7, 2017 |work=KWWL |access-date=June 4, 2018 |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180604125033/http://www.kwwl.com/story/37018580/2017/12/Thursday/turning-point-usa-voted-against-at-wartburg-college|archive-date=June 4, 2018}}</ref>
The Executive Board of the student union of [[Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute]] also voted on January 18, 2018 to deny the Turning Point USA chapter status as an officially recognized student organization.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Burns|first1=Darby|title=Turning Point denied|url=https://poly.rpi.edu/2018/01/24/turning-point-denied/|work=The Rensselaer Polytechnic|date=January 24, 2018}}</ref>
==Involvement in student government==
Turning Point USA has been involved in influencing [[student government]] elections at a number of colleges and universities.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=http://www.chronicle.com/article/Inside-a-Stealth-Plan-for/240008|title=Inside a Stealth Plan for Political Influence|last=Vasquez|first=Michael|date=May 7, 2017|work=The Chronicle of Higher Education|access-date=September 6, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0009-5982}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Universities that have been targeted by this effort have included [[Ohio State University]], the [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]], and the [[University of Maryland]].
These claims led to conservative candidates at the University of Maryland withdrawing from student elections after failing to report assistance from Turning Point.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dbknews.com/2017/04/17/turning-point-umd-college-campuses|title=Conservative nonprofit linked to Unity Party has chapters at more than 1,000 universities|date=April 16, 2017|last=Snurr|first=Carrie|website=The Diamondback|access-date=September 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/research/2017/03/29/conservative-dark-money-groups-infiltrating-campus-politics/215822#tpusa|title=The Conservative Dark-Money Groups Infiltrating Campus Politics|last=Vogel|first=Pam|date=March 17, 2017|publisher=Media Matters for America |access-date=November 24, 2017}}</ref>
A private brochure, handed out only to Turning Point donors, highlighted the organization's alleged strategy to take over student governments at universities across the country, and included a list of every Turning Point-supported student who was elected to student government positions in the year 2017.<ref name=":0" />
Turning Point said that it had helped more than 50 conservatives win elections to become student-body presidents.<ref name=":1" /> However, when ''Politico'' looked into Turning Point's claims, it found the "success rate to be considerably overstated. In fact, some of the students that Turning Point USA claimed to have backed flatly condemned the organization and said they'd never spoken to anyone who works for it."<ref name=":1" />
==Involvement in 2016 presidential election==
In addition, several former employees and student volunteers for Turning Point claimed they had witnessed collusion between high-ranking Turning Point employees – including Kirk himself and top advisor Ginni Thomas – and the presidential campaigns of both [[Ted Cruz]] and [[Marco Rubio]]. The interactions included Kirk coordinating via email with two officials at a pro-Cruz [[Political action committee|super PAC]] to send student volunteers to work for the PAC in [[South Carolina]], as well as two students being requested by Thomas herself, via voicemail, to distribute over 200 Cruz placards in [[Wisconsin]].<ref name=":0"/>
A former employee for Turning Point, who had been based in Florida, alleged that Turning Point had given the personal information of over 700 student supporters to an employee with Rubio's presidential campaign.<ref name=":0"/>
In October 2016, Kirk participated in a [[Fox News]] event along with [[Donald Trump Jr.]], [[Eric Trump]], and [[Lara Trump]] that had a pro-[[Donald Trump]] tone. A Turning Point staff member wrote on Facebook that students who attended the event would have their expenses covered. The event led tax experts to say the organization's conduct may have violated its tax-exempt status, a charge disputed by Turning Point.<ref name=auto/>
==Controversies==
In 2016, Turning Point at [[Grand Valley State University]] filed a lawsuit against the trustees of the school. The complainants asked the court to prohibit enforcement of GVSU's Speech Zone policy and declare it a violation of the students' 1st and 14th Amendment freedoms. They have since reached a settlement.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2017/03/gvsu_reaches_settlement_with_s.html|title=GVSU reaches settlement with student group alleging it restricted free speech|work=MLive.com|access-date=February 7, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>
In December 2016, Turning Point falsely quoted [[Nancy Pelosi]] in a Facebook post as saying: "Employers cutting hours is a good thing. It then gives that person time to pursue their dreams and passions."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2016/dec/12/turning-point-usa/facebook-image-revives-made-claim-nancy-pelosi-pra/ |title=Group spreads fake quote from Pelosi about working hours |newspaper=@politifact|access-date=February 19, 2017|language=en}}</ref>
In May 2017, [[DePaul University]] refused to allow Turning Point to post "Gay Lives Matter" posters on campus. Matt Lamb, a spokesperson for Turning Point, said that the action by DePaul was an infringement of free speech rights.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://depauliaonline.com/2017/05/22/university-rejects-gay-lives-matter-poster-promoting-guest-speaker/|title=University rejects Gay Lives Matter poster promoting guest speaker • The DePaulia|date=May 22, 2017|website=The DePaulia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804052949/http://depauliaonline.com/2017/05/22/university-rejects-gay-lives-matter-poster-promoting-guest-speaker/|archive-date=August 4, 2017}}</ref>
In September 2017, a [[University of Nebraska]] lecturer was reassigned after she received threats stemming from a video posted online that showed her confronting a student recruiting for TPUSA.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ksl.com/?nid=157&sid=45726911&title=nebraska-lecturer-reassigned-after-student-confrontation|title=Nebraska lecturer reassigned after student confrontation {{!}} KSL.com|access-date=September 8, 2017|language=en}}</ref>
In October 2017, several Turning Point student members at [[Kent State University]] conducted a protest against campus "safe space" culture, which involved members dressing up in diapers as babies.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/tpusa-diaper-protest-kent-state/|title=Conservative group dons diapers to protest safe spaces at Kent State|date=October 19, 2017|work=The Daily Dot|accessdate=November 23, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chronicle.com/blogs/ticker/a-bunch-of-conservative-students-dressed-up-as-babies-to-protest-safe-spaces/120706|title=A Bunch of Conservative Students Dressed Up as Babies to Protest Safe Spaces – The Ticker - Blogs - The Chronicle of Higher Education|website=Chronicle.com|language=en-US|accessdate=November 23, 2017}}</ref> Following widespread ridicule on social media, the student-run publication ''KentWired.com'' reported that the Turning Point chapter at Kent State had disbanded.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.kentwired.com/latest_updates/article_150da234-1053-11e8-a675-0b661d4f9580.html|title=Kent State chapter of Turning Point to disband|last=Gall|first=Addie|work=KentWired.com|access-date=February 13, 2018|language=en}}</ref>
In February 2018, the [[University of South Florida]] chapter of TPUSA was dissolved when it was discovered that their president, Aida Vazquez-Soto, was working with a pro-Palestinian group. Vazquez-Soto said 'Something is clearly wrong with an organization that felt that somehow by silencing me they could deal with the problem at hand.' <ref>[http://www.usforacle.com/news/view.php/1032038/Rumors-lead-to-shake-up-of-TPUSA] {{dead link|date=February 2019}}</ref>
In June 2018, conservative radio talk show host [[Joe Walsh (Illinois politician)|Joe Walsh]] resigned from the TPUSA board because Charlie Kirk was too closely tied to Donald Trump. Walsh said that "It’s so important to not be beholden to politicians, but to be beholden to the issues ... When Charlie went to work for Trump, that crossed that line. You can’t advance Trump and advance these issues."<ref>Keilman, John (October 20, 2018) [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-charlie-kirk-turning-point-campus-conservatives-profile-20181019-story.html "Before Trump and Kanye became fans, Charlie Kirk battled 'Marxist' high school teachers in Chicago's suburbs"] ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''</ref>
In October 2018, the Miami New Times reported that TPUSA members at [[Florida International University]] shared jokes "about watching underage cartoon [[pornography]] and deporting [[Latina]] women, and, in the most repugnant case, share racist '[[Pepe the Frog]]' memes showing Syrian men raping a white Swedish woman at gunpoint."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/turning-point-usa-fiu-chapter-shares-racist-sexist-pepe-memes-10827433|title=Chats Show FIU Turning Point USA Members Sharing Racist Memes and Rape Jokes|first=Jerry|last=Iannelli|date=October 16, 2018|newspaper=[[Miami New Times]]|accessdate=February 15, 2019}}</ref>
In November 2018, [[Fox News]] correspondent Rick Leventhal cut off Turning Point USA's Anna Paulina after she compared former Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] to the disease [[herpes]].<ref>Croucher, Shane (November 23, 2018) [https://www.newsweek.com/video-fox-news-guest-attacks-hillary-clinton-she-wont-go-away-shes-herpes-1228486 "Fox News Guest Attacks Hillary Clinton—'She Won’t Go Away, She’s Like Herpes'] ''[[Newsweek]]''</ref>
''[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]'' reported in February 2019 that [[Benny Johnson]] – who was fired from [[BuzzFeed]] in 2014 for multiple instances of [[plagiarism]], and later let go by [[Independent Journal Review]] for multiple problems, including plagiarism – was joining TPUSA as their "Chief Creative Officer".<ref>Kirell, Andrew (February 6, 2019) [https://www.thedailybeast.com/serial-plagiarist-benny-johnson-joining-charlie-kirks-turning-point-usa "Serial Plagiarist Benny Johnson Joining Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA"] ''[[The Daily Beast]]''</ref>
=== Instances of racism ===
In December 2017, ''[[The New Yorker]]'' published an article by [[Jane Mayer]] showcasing interviews with former minority members of the organization. Former staff members said they witnessed widespread discrimination against minorities in the group, and stated "the organization was a difficult workplace and rife with tension, some of it racial."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/a-conservative-nonprofit-that-seeks-to-transform-college-campuses-faces-allegations-of-racial-bias-and-illegal-campaign-activity|title=Allegations of Racial Bias and Illegal Campaign Activity at a Conservative Nonprofit That Seeks to Transform College Campuses|last=Mayer|first=Jane|date=December 21, 2017|url-access=limited|work=The New Yorker|access-date=December 23, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Conservative Campus Org Turning Point USA 'Rife' With Racism, Probably Illegal Campaign Activity|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/conservative-campus-org-turning-point-usa-rife-with-racism-possibly-illegal-campaign-activity|newspaper=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=December 22, 2017|accessdate=December 23, 2017}}</ref> One former employee, an African-American woman, said she was the only person of color working for the organization at the time she was hired in 2014; she then said that she was fired on [[Martin Luther King Jr. Day]]. The article also revealed text messages sent by Crystal Clanton – who was a leading figure in the organization and served as the group's national field director for five years – to another Turning Point employee saying "i hate black people. Like fuck them all . . . I hate blacks. End of story." Kirk responded to the revelations by saying that "Turning Point assessed the situation and took decisive action within 72 hours of being made aware of the issue."<ref name=":0" /> The article also noted that Kirk had explicitly praised Clanton in his book ''Time for a Turning Point'', saying that she had been "the best hire we ever could have made," and that "Turning Point needs more Crystals; so does America."<ref name=":0" />
In an article titled "Turning Point USA Keeps Accidentally Hiring Racists," ''[[HuffPost]]'' reported that the woman hired to replace Crystal Clanton had a history of using racial slurs, particularly against African-Americans, on [[Twitter]] before deleting her account. In response to the reports, Kirk referred to the individual in question as "a former employee" in his official statement (without clarifying when she had been fired), and Turning Point issued an internal memo announcing that all current and new staff would face social media background checks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/turning-point-usa-racist-tweets_us_5ad65b06e4b029ebe01ed1ac|title=Turning Point USA Keeps Accidentally Hiring Racists|date=April 25, 2018|work=[[HuffPost]]|first=Ashley|last=Feinberg|accessdate=May 1, 2018}}</ref>
Charlie Kirk has said Turning Point USA has no relationship with [[alt-right]] groups.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/education/2016/11/professor_watchlist_is_a_grotesque_catalog_of_left_leaning_academics.html|title=Oh Good, a "Professor Watch List"|date=November 23, 2016|journal=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|first=Rebecca|last=Schuman}}</ref> In 2017, Turning Point chapters organized campus visits by former Breitbart editor [[Milo Yiannopoulos]] to the [[University of Colorado Boulder]] and [[Miami University (Ohio)]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.timescall.com/lifestyles/ci_30740081/2-000-student-fees-going-toward-milo-yiannopoulos|title=$2,000 in student fees going toward Milo Yiannopoulos visit to CU Boulder|access-date=February 19, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cuindependent.com/2017/01/26/turning-point-usa-defends-decision-invite-milo-yiannopoulos-cu-boulder/|title=Turning Point USA defends decision to invite Milo Yiannopoulos to CU Boulder|last=CUIndependent|date=January 26, 2017|website=CU Independent|access-date=February 19, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://thesantaclara.org/boiling-point-over-turning-point/#.WKJJ5IWcG00|title=Boiling Point Over Turning Point|newspaper=The Santa Clara|access-date=February 19, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2018, The [[Southern Poverty Law Center]]'s [[Hate Watch]] documented TPUSA's links to [[white supremacists]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018/02/16/turning-point-usas-blooming-romance-alt-right|title=Turning Point USA's blooming romance with the alt-right|website=Southern Poverty Law Center|accessdate=February 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018/06/15/turning-point-usa-accused-%E2%80%98boosting-their-numbers-racists%E2%80%99-long-established-conservative|title=Turning Point USA accused of ‘boosting their numbers with racists’ by long-established conservative student group|website=Southern Poverty Law Center|accessdate=February 15, 2019}}</ref>
===Conflicts with other conservative organizations===
In May 2018, an internal memo written by [[Young America's Foundation]] (YAF) was leaked, in which YAF leadership "warned" its members to not associate with Turning Point. The memo accused the organization of various improprieties such as exaggerating the number of Turning Point chapters and activities around the country, taking credit for other organizations' events, increasing attendance at its own events by "boosting numbers with racists & Nazi sympathizers," and sponsoring "humiliating" campus activism events, in reference to the Kent State diaper incident.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/Leaked-Memo-From-Conservative/243688|title=Leaked Memo From Conservative Group Cautions Students to Stay Away From Turning Point USA|work=[[The Chronicle of Higher Education]]|author=Michael Vasquez|date=June 15, 2018|accessdate=August 21, 2018}}</ref> In addition, the YAF memo included another memo on the subject circulated internally by [[Young Americans for Liberty]], which accused Turning Point of illegally obtaining YAL's email list and soliciting its students without their permission, which Turning Point only stopped doing after being issued a cease-and-desist order.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yaf.org/news/yaf-memo-advising-our-students-about-tpusa/|title=YAF Memo: Advising Our Students About TPUSA|work=[[Young America's Foundation]]|author=Kimberly Begg|date=May 25, 2018|accessdate=August 21, 2018}}</ref>
After the memo was leaked in June 2018, a representative for Turning Point criticized Young America's Foundation in a statement to ''[[The Chronicle of Higher Education]]'', accusing the group of "abandoning the 'Reagan Rule'" that "Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican." Although Charlie Kirk did not directly respond to the memo, he posted on Twitter that he wished "some conservatives fought the left as hard as they fight people who support President Trump." Turning Point's Communications Director [[Candace Owens]] directly responded to the memo, saying she was "truly speechless" over the memo supposedly attacking Kirk for his lack of college experience. A former employee stated on Twitter that "TPUSA activists do some incredible work. It’s a shame the face for their work has become constant, EXTREME inflation of numbers to mislead donors. They have an opportunity to turn this around, and they should."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/Leaked-Memo-From-Conservative/243688|title=Leaked Memo From Conservative Group Cautions Students to Stay Away From Turning Point USA|newspaper=[[The Chronicle of Higher Education]]|date=June 15, 2018|first=Michael|last=Vasquez}}</ref>
In the [[Hillsdale College]] Daily Collegian, opinions editor Kaylee McGhee, wrote an article titled "Charlie Kirk and TPUSA aren’t conservative, as real conservatives already knew." In the article, McGhee referred to TPUSA as a "reactionary cancer" rather than a group supporting real conservatism that is "supposed to preserve the timeless principles of liberty and equality for all." <ref>{{cite web|url=http://hillsdalecollegian.com/2018/06/charlie-kirk-tpusa-arent-conservative-real-conservatives-already-knew/|title=Charlie Kirk and TPUSA aren’t conservative, as real conservatives already knew|first=Kaylee|last=McGhee|date=June 21, 2018|website=Hilldadalecollegian.com|accessdate=February 15, 2019}}</ref>
In late October 2018, ''[[The Daily Beast]]'' reported that [[Lucian Wintrich]] and other conservatives blamed Charlie Kirk and [[Candace Owens]] for losing [[Kanye West]] as an ally of President Trump.<ref>Sommer, Will (October 31, 2018) [https://www.thedailybeast.com/pro-trump-activists-blame-charlie-kirk-and-candace-owens-for-losing-kanye-west "Pro-Trump Activists Blame Charlie Kirk and Candace Owens for Losing Kanye West"] ''[[The Daily Beast]]''/</ref> Since then, West has re-affirmed his support for President Trump.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pagesix.com/2019/01/01/kanye-west-wants-everyone-to-know-hes-still-team-trump/?_ga=2.27388798.394705930.1546823176-138486764.1546823176|title=Kanye West wants everyone to know he's still team Trump|date=January 1, 2019|access-date=January 6, 2019|publisher=''[[Page Six]]''}}</ref>
===Internal dissension===
After TPUSA's annual "Student Action Summit" in late December 2018, dissidents within the organization, headed by conservative activist Kevin Martin, formed "Heal Our Voice", a group critical of Kirk's leadership of Turning Point USA. One member of the group told ''[[The Daily Beast]]'' that "Charlie Kirk can be a little bit of a snowflake — or a lot a bit of a snowflake." Other complaints concerned sexual harassment and assault at TPUSA events.<ref>Sommer, Will (January 8, 2019) [https://www.thedailybeast.com/turning-point-faces-internal-backlash-rude-memes "Turning Point Dissidents Turn on 'Snowflake' Founder and Fox News Darling Charlie Kirk"] ''[[The Daily Beast]]''</ref>
== Founder Charlie Kirk ==
[[File:Charlie Kirk by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg|thumb|upright|The group's founder, Charlie Kirk]]
The group's founder and current leader, Charlie Kirk, grew up in [[Prospect Heights, Illinois]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Kirk, Charlie, and Hamachek, Brent|title=Time for a Turning Point: Setting a Course Toward Free Markets and Limited Government for Future Generations|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=838mDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=%22charlie+kirk%22+%22PRospect+heights%22&source=bl&ots=hj6VPuzx8q&sig=zaJYp1kUnpHy4Moz09-a4yNOpPY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj3w4bwiqHYAhUmxlQKHW9dB_oQ6AEIQjAG#v=onepage&q=%22charlie%20kirk%22%20%22PRospect%20heights%22&f=false|publisher=Simon and Schuster|year=2016|page=4}}</ref> Kirk became politically active during high school. In his junior year of school in 2010, Kirk volunteered for the successful U.S. Senate campaign of Illinois Republican [[Mark Kirk]] (to whom he is not related).<ref name="perfect-storm">{{cite news|title=Perfect storm launches 19-year-old Wheeling native into political punditry|url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130429/news/704299942/|work=Daily Herald|date=April 29, 2013}}</ref>
In 2012 when he was a high school senior, Kirk wrote an essay for ''[[Breitbart News]]'' alleging liberal bias in high school textbooks leading to an appearance on the [[Fox Business Network]]. At a subsequent speaking engagement at [[Benedictine University]]'s "Youth Empowerment Day," Kirk met Bill Montgomery, a retiree more than 50 years his senior, who was then a [[Tea Party movement|Tea Party]]-backed legislative candidate. Montgomery encouraged Kirk to get engaged in political activism full-time. He subsequently founded Turning Point USA. At the [[2012 Republican National Convention]], Kirk met [[Foster Friess]], a prominent Republican donor, and persuaded him to finance the organization.<ref name="atlantic">{{cite news|author=Nelson, Rebecca|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/03/the-21-year-old-becoming-a-major-player-in-conservative-politics/451110/|title=The 21-Year-Old Becoming a Major Player in Conservative Politics|date=March 25, 2015|newspaper=[[The Atlantic Monthly]]}}</ref>
According to Kirk, he dreamed of attending the [[United States Military Academy]] in [[West Point, New York]], but his application was rejected.<ref name=":1" /> According to ''[[The New Yorker]]'', Kirk said "the slot he considered his went to 'a far less-qualified candidate of a different gender and a different persuasion" whose test scores he claimed he knew. Kirk later said he was being sarcastic when he made the comment.<ref name="new yorker">{{cite news|author=Mayer, Jane|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/a-conservative-nonprofit-that-seeks-to-transform-college-campuses-faces-allegations-of-racial-bias-and-illegal-campaign-activity|title=A Conservative Nonprofit That Seeks to Transform College Campuses Faces Allegations of Racial Bias and Illegal Campaign Activity|date=December 21, 2017|newspaper=[[The New Yorker]]}}</ref>
Kirk took general education classes at [[Harper College]], a local [[community college]]. He founded Turning Point USA while studying at Harper.<ref name="perfect-storm"/>
Kirk addressed the [[2016 Republican National Convention]]. In an interview with ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' magazine during the convention, Kirk said that while he "was not the world's biggest Donald Trump fan," he would vote for him, and that Trump's candidacy made Turning Point's mission more difficult.<ref name="Wired RNC">{{cite news|title=At the Republican Convention, Millennials Search for Signs of the Future|url=https://www.wired.com/2016/07/republican-convention-millennials-search-signs-future/|work=Wired|date=July 20, 2016}}</ref> ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]'' described Kirk as leading the "millennial assault" for [[Donald Trump]]'s 2016 presidential campaign.<ref name="DMN">{{cite news|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2016/11/11/two-young-dallas-guns-helped-deliver-white-house-trump|title=How two Dallas young guns helped deliver the White House to Trump|date=November 11, 2016|work=Dallas Morning News}}</ref>
Kirk wrote the 2018 book ''Campus Battlefield: How Conservatives Can WIN the Battle on Campus and Why It Matters''. In a review for ''[[The Weekly Standard]]'', Adam Rubenstein described the book as a "hot mess", "nothing more a marketing pitch for TPUSA" and said the "thin" book was "stuffed with reprintings of his tweets and quotes from others."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.weeklystandard.com/adam-rubenstein/charlie-kirks-book-campus-battlefield-is-a-joke|title=Charlie Kirk's ''Campus Battlefield'' Is a Hot Mess|date=2018-10-10|work=The Weekly Standard|access-date=2018-10-10|language=en}}</ref>
In 2018, Kirk praised Kanye West for getting involved in politics and advocating for President Trump. Later that year when [[Taylor Swift]] endorsed a Democrat in the Tennessee Senate race, Kirk condemned her endorsement and told her to "stay away from politics."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-guests-want-taylor-swift-to-shut-up-but-love-kanyes-maga-embrace|title=Fox Guests Want Taylor Swift to Shut Up, but Love Kanye’s MAGA Embrace|last=Wilstein|first=Matt|date=2018-10-08|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=2018-10-11|language=en}}</ref> Kirk suggested, without evidence, that Swift had not written her endorsement.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://uk.businessinsider.com/charlie-kirk-fox-and-friends-says-taylor-swift-didnt-write-statement-endorsing-democratic-politicians-2018-10?r=US&IR=T|title=Conservative activist says on 'Fox and Friends' that Taylor Swift didn't write her own Instagram post endorsing Democratic politicians|work=Business Insider|access-date=2018-10-15|language=en}}</ref> Kirk said it was "ridiculous" for Swift to accuse Republican [[Marsha Blackburn]] of being hostile to LGBT rights and women's rights; Blackburn has a well-documented history of anti-LGBT positions, which Swift cited in her endorsement.<ref name=":3" />
In December 2018, Kirk falsely claimed that protesters in [[Yellow vests movement|France's "yellow vests" movement]] chanted "We want Trump." Kirk's false claims were later repeated by President Trump. The videos in support of the claim were from a far-right protest in London, not from the yellow vest movement in France.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://factcheck.afp.com/no-french-protesters-are-not-chanting-we-want-trump|title=No, French protesters are not chanting, 'We want Trump'|date=2018-12-04|website=AFP Fact Check|language=en|access-date=2018-12-08}}</ref> He also falsely claimed that Cuba has 15 years lower life expectancy than the United States, while in fact it has a higher life expectancy, and that 85% of all jobs in the private sector in USA come from small businesses, while that number is less than 50%.<ref>{{cite web|title=Debunking Charlie Kirk's Arguments At Politicon 2018 In Debate vs Hasan Piker|author=Anton Dybal|url=https://askepticalhuman.com/politics/2018/10/23/debunking-charlie-kirks-arguments-at-politicon-2018-in-debate-vs-hasan-piker|work=Askepticalhuman.com}}</ref>
Cultural critic [[James Wolcott]] has described Kirk as a [[Tucker Carlson]] "Mini-Me".<ref>[[James Wolcott|Wolcott, James]] (February 6, 2019) [https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2019/02/james-wolcott-on-the-shelf-life-of-a-deplorable "James Wolcott on the Shelf Life of a Deplorable"] ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]''</ref>
==Turning Point UK==
'''Turning Point UK''' ('''TPUK''') is a British offshoot of Turning Point USA,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2019/02/07/backlash-against-turning-point-uk-rather-proves-point-hard-conservative/|title=The backlash against Turning Point UK rather proves its point; it's hard being a conservative on campus|last=Grant|first=Madeline|date=7 February 2019|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=7 February 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref name="guardian-walker">{{cite news|first1=Peter|last1=Walker|accessdate=4 February 2019|title=Tory MPs back youth group with apparent links to US far right|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/04/tory-mps-back-rightwing-youth-group-turning-point-uk|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=4 February 2019|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name="independent-dearden">{{cite news|accessdate=2 February 2019|title=Tory MPs voice support for new UK branch of ‘sinister’ right-wing US group|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/turning-point-uk-jacob-rees-mogg-conservative-right-wing-group-launch-tory-a8762351.html|date=4 February 2019|newspaper=[[The Independent]]}}</ref> set up to challenge [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]] political ideology perceived to be dominant in UK schools, colleges and universities.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kindred|first=Alahna|title=''NO TURNING BACK What is Turning Point UK, does Jacob Rees-Mogg support it and why are they controversial?''|url=https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8350984/what-is-turning-point-uk-does-jacob-rees-mogg-support-it-and-why-are-they-controversial/|date=4 February 2019|work=[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]|accessdate=5 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|accessdate=5 February 2019|title=Turning Point UK May Make Politics On Campus More Bitter And Polarised Than Ever Before|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/turning-point-uk_uk_5c5610dce4b023e1bae3de0e|date=5 February 2019|website=[[HuffPost]]}}</ref><ref name="cherwell-merwe">{{cite news|first=Ben|last=van der Merwe|accessdate=5 February 2019|title=Right-wing dark money comes to Oxford student politics|url=http://cherwell.org/2019/01/28/right-wing-dark-money-comes-to-oxford-student-politics/|newspaper=[[Cherwell (newspaper)|Cherwell]]|date=28 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|accessdate=4 February 2019|title=The wrong Turning Point|url=https://spectator.us/wrong-turning-point/|date=4 February 2019|newspaper=[[The Spectator|Spectator USA]]}}</ref><ref name="newstatesman">{{cite web|accessdate=4 February 2019|title=The UK launch of right-wing youth group Turning Point is going about as well as expected|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/media/2019/02/turning-point-uks-launch-memes-going-brilliantly-bad-you-expected|work=[[New Statesman]]}}</ref>
Turning Point UK's chairman is George Farmer<ref name="guardian-walker"/><ref name="independent-dearden"/> (fiance of Candace Owens)<ref name="thinkprogress"/> and it employs several staff.<ref name="cherwell-merwe"/>
The organisation claims it has chapters at the universities of [[University of Sussex|Sussex]], [[University of Oxford|Oxford]], [[University of St Andrews|St Andrews]], [[York University|York]], [[University of Warwick|Warwick]], [[University of Nottingham|Nottingham]], [[King's College London]], [[University College London]], the [[London School of Economics]] and the [[University of the Arts London]].<ref name="cherwell-merwe" /> Like Turning Point USA, it does not disclose the identities of its donors.<ref name="cherwell-merwe" />
The group was launched in December 2018<ref name="cherwell-merwe"/> by Kirk and Owens<ref name="thinkprogress" /><ref name="dailydot">{{cite web|accessdate=5 February 2019|title=Turning Point's UK launch beset by memes|url=https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/turning-point-uk-memes/|date=4 February 2019|website=[[The Daily Dot]]}}</ref> at the [[Royal Automobile Club]] in London.<ref name="cherwell-merwe" /> Among those attending the event were [[Andy Wigmore]], [[Paul Joseph Watson]] and [[James Delingpole]].<ref name="cherwell-merwe" /><ref name="independent-dearden" /> On the day of its social media launch in February 2019, MPs including [[Jacob Rees-Mogg]] and [[Priti Patel]] tweeted supportive messages for the organisation,<ref name="guardian-walker" /><ref name="independent-dearden" /> while it was marked for criticism by left-wing British newspapers and their supporters<ref name="independent-dearden"/><ref name=thinkprogress>{{cite web|last=Barnes|first=Luke|title=''Turning Point USA launches British chapter to rocky reception''|url=https://thinkprogress.org/pro-trump-student-group-turning-point-usa-is-branching-out-to-the-uk-5d6abe71384c/|date=4 February 2019|work=[[ThinkProgress]]|accessdate=5 February 2019}}</ref> and the launch of its Twitter account was sabotaged by multiple parody accounts, including a few created by a ‘left-leaning student’ calling himself ‘Skeptical Seventh’.<ref name="dailydot" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.indy100.com/article/turning-point-uk-right-wing-conservative-twitter-charlie-kirk-8762621|work=The Independent|title=Turning Point's UK Twitter launch has gotten off to an exceedingly bad start|first=Lowenna|last=Waters|date=5 February 2019|accessdate=6 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Gian|last=Volpicelli|title=How an army of farcical fakes ruined Turning Point UK's big day|url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/how-an-army-of-fakes-took-on-rightwing-organisation-turning-point-uk|work=[[Wired UK]]|date=6 February 2019|access-date=7 February 2019|issn=1357-0978|via=www.wired.co.uk}}</ref> There was also a protest from the charity [[Turning Point (charity)|Turning Point]] over potential confusion caused by similarities between the two names.<ref>{{cite news |title=The battle over Britain's newest student movement |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-47159137 |accessdate=9 February 2019 |work=BBC News |date=9 February 2019}}</ref>
Labour MP [[David Lammy]] has described Turning Point UK as evidence that “sinister forces are taking hold of our country” and that the Conservative Party “openly promotes hard-right, xenophobic bile”.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/right-wing-student-leader-charlie-kirk-will-tour-uk-universities-h223d32rd|title=Right-wing student leader Charlie Kirk will tour UK universities|last=Brown|first=David|date=6 February 2019|work=[[The Times]]|accessdate=6 February 2019|language=en|issn=0140-0460}}{{paywall}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
== External links ==
* {{official|https://www.tpusa.com/}}
[[Category:2012 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 2012]]
[[Category:501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations]]
[[Category:Conservative political advocacy groups in the United States]]
[[Category:Student political organizations in the United States]]