A student group affiliated with Turning Point USA is facing criticism for hosting an event at a Maryland high school in December, with one woman saying that Child Protective Services had been notified.
A local community member, who was identified as Nancy, expressed "serious concern" about the December TPUSA-affiliated event at a February 12 board meeting. The woman spoke after a student from the high school who serves as president of the Calvert County Club America.
That student said his group placed restrictions on the event after receiving "hate" online, including restricting access for adults they did not know who were not volunteers or parents of attendees. He also stated that all students who attended had parental permission.
"We have been accused of many things. We have been accused of grooming children… an allegation that a random unnamed man was president of our group and had certain felony charges. I'm the president of the group. I'm 17, I'm a minor. I can't groom children because I am a child. I don't have any felony charges or convictions," the student said, adding an invitation to discuss any questions.
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The student clarified that CCCA is affiliated with TPUSA but is its own 501(c)(3) organization and is not part of the state's public school system.
Nancy spoke next, raising her issues with the TPUSA event.
"While community building opportunities for students are important, this event raises serious concerns related to student safety, parental rights and governance oversight," the woman stated, claiming that parents and legal guardians were not permitted to attend the event.
"Excluding parents and guardians from a student-focused event creates a lack of transparency and undermines established best practices for youth safety," she continued, going on to say that such events should be subject to supervision and background checks.
"Students are widely recognized as vulnerable population, they are in critical developmental stages, and especially susceptible to influence," she added.
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"All Board of Education members in this room are mandated reporters under state law, as I am. Based on the circumstances surrounding this event, a report was made to Child Protective Services," the woman added as she concluded her remarks.
Controversy over the event comes as TPUSA continues to grow its influence on high school and college campuses across the country since the assassination of the group's founder, Charlie Kirk.
His wife, Erika Kirk, told Fox News' Shannon Bream in December that the organization intends to resume its normal presence on college campuses in particular.
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"We are not afraid," she said, adding that the TPUSA team will continue to host "Prove Me Wrong"-style debates as part of its campus outreach.
Charlie Kirk was assassinated during an outdoor event on Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University. The gathering marked the first stop on TPUSA's planned "American Comeback Tour," and at first, nothing appeared out of the ordinary.
The charismatic TPUSA founder rose to prominence through his signature political debates on college campuses. Moments before the fatal shot, he sat beneath a white tent emblazoned with the slogan "Prove Me Wrong," fielding open-mic questions from thousands in attendance.
Fox News' Amanda Macias contributed to this report.
