“They Will Know We are Christian by our LGBTQ Hate”
Charlie Kirk’s TPUSA is Fueling Christian Nationalist Attacks on California Schools
By Ali Collins
It’s not just Florida.
This summer, Christian nationalists began whipping up outrage at California school board meetings. They focused on removing policies that protect and affirm LGBTQ students and students of color. “Parents’ rights” activists insist their actions are driven by a need to “keep kids safe.” Yet, the escalating fear they bring to school board meetings says otherwise.
For example, this past June, in Glendale, CA, a small school district in the heart of Los Angeles County, violent insurrectionist Tony Moon distributed t-shirts on behalf of “parents’ rights” activists. Alt-right conspiracy theorists Andy Ngo and Jack Posobiec amplified the violence that ensued on social media. Others then used Ngo’s posts to warn Temecula families to “Get ready!” for similar attacks. (Read more about how “parents’ rights” activists coordinate with violent extremists here.)
If “God is Love,” one wonders how these activists define Christianity. As this video created by Glendale community members illustrates, these protests are NOT motivated by inclusivity, generosity, empathy, or, least of all, acceptance.
(Want to fight back? Check out my website for information, resources, and links to other organizations fighting to protect inclusive education!)
These are not isolated incidents.
California schools are experiencing an uptick in attacks from a network of groups funded by national right-wing think tanks and Koch donor network-funded organizations. Politically motivated actors have taken advantage of societal disruption and fear caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and empowered a small number of aggrieved local individuals with a well-funded network of financial, legal, and communications support.
Based on the recent violence we are witnessing at school board meetings such as the one in Glendale, CA, it is becoming clear that Jan 6 insurrection was training for a national campaign. Extremists are attempting (and sometimes succeeding) at doing what they could not achieve at the ballot box via regular democratic elections.
In 2020 Steve Bannon, former advisor to President Trump, announced plans to take political power, declaring on his podcast: “The path to save the nation is very simple — it’s going to go through the school boards,” This path starts with local elections and leads all the way to the White House.
Fake grassroots, otherwise known as “astroturf”.
During the 2020 presidential election, the GOP began enacting this plan with a network of well-resourced dark money organizations. While these groups present themselves as an array of different organizations with various ideological perspectives, they share many of the same donors and work in unison to achieve common objectives of rolling back civil rights gains and dismantling public education.
Their strategies demonstrate a similar pattern: disrupt, privatize, dismantle, and take political control in the ramp-up to the 2024 presidential election.
Lately, public discourse has centered on “parents’ rights” groups such as Moms for Liberty and Parents Defending Education. The Southern Poverty Law Center recently listed these and other groups as anti-government extremist groups.
Working in alignment with these groups have been alt-right influencers and insurrectionists such as III%ers, and Proud Boys, whose leadership was recently convicted of “seditious conspiracy” to overthrow the federal government.
(Want to fight back? Check out my website for information, resources, and links to other organizations fighting to protect inclusive education!)
Christian nationalists join the fray.
Faith-based organizations have joined this list of extremists, pushing a Christian nationalist political agenda. Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA has been a key facet in coordinating this involvement between various groups of agitators. Charlie Kirk has been making headlines recently for trashing women who are the epitome of #BlackExcellence.
TPUSA co-chair, Rob McCoy, sought control of his Conejo Valley School Board with handpicked candidates espousing “patriotism” and religion. McCoy is involved in TPUSA Faith events, which host many agitators and activist groups we currently see targeting school board meetings. Gays for Groomers (GAG), Dad Army, Mom Army, SoCal Parent Advocates and others attended the December 2022 AmFest conference and have been showing up to defame, threaten and terrorize educators, parents, and students at the same school board meetings where TPUSA religious leaders have initiated school board takeovers.
The media must go beyond the surface and discuss the involvement of well-funded outside extremist groups. School board conflict over supposed CRT or LGBTQ-affirming practices is not organic. It is all connected. Look for patterns. Stay vigilant. Speak up. Show up. Our children’s future and the future of our democracy are at stake.
(Want to fight back? Check out my website for information, resources, and links to other organizations fighting to protect inclusive education!)
Appendix
Below is a list of local connections between CA Christian nationalist agitators and TPUSA. Please check back regularly, as this list is still under construction and will be revised to include new information.
Charlie Kirk, Founder of Turning Point USA
Charlie Kirk is a pro-Trump troll and founder of the conservative student-oriented Turning Point USA. He has a history of pushing right-wing hoaxes and conspiracy theories.
“Charlie Kirk’s “Professor Watchlist solicited “tips” to help publicly “expose and document” college professors who “advance leftist propaganda in the classroom.” The conservative group Turning Point USA, led by frequent Fox News guest and former Breitbart.com contributor Charlie Kirk, is behind the site…
The Professor Watchlist, launched on November 21, of 2016, encourages visitors to “submit a tip” to report professors who “discriminate against conservative students and advance leftist propaganda in the classroom.” https://www.mediamatters.org/charlie-kirk/meet-charlie-kirk-boy-wonder-trump-ally-behind-poorly-sourced-mccarthy-watchlist
More on the Professor Watchlist from Inside Higher Ed.
Kirk also created a school board watchlist which has been used to target school board members.
“Founded in 2012 and initially targeting young, college-age conservatives, TPUSA expanded its appeal to like-minded religious voters in 2019, when Kirk teamed up with Jerry Falwell Jr., then-president of Liberty University, to create the Falkirk Center for Faith and Liberty.”
“TPUSA has programs targeting women, Latinos, Blacks, and Jews. In 2021 TPUSA launched Turning Point USA Faith, a new initiative that targets Christian leaders in a battle to address the “crisis of faith in America,” meaning the loss of faith in American founding principles, not a crisis of theology.”
https://ministrywatch.com/turning-point-faith-ups-political-pressure-on-americas-pastors-2/
Charlie Kirk produces a variety of media and regularly collaborates with other right-wing and alt-right conspiracy theorists and influencers:
“On the fifth episode of his Rumble show Thoughtcrime, right-wing youth leader Charlie Kirk and his co-host Jack Posobiec spoke with anti-LGBTQ conspiracy theorist James Lindsay and Blake Neff — Tucker Carlson’s former head writer who resigned after it was revealed that he made racist and sexist statements online. Neff was later hired by Kirk as his radio producer.
Panelists voiced support for alleged human trafficker Andrew Tate’s racist and misogynistic conspiracies and defended bullying.”
Many of the pastors and agitators listed in the document below have convened at Turning Point USA Faith’s Pastor’s Summit meetings.
These include:
Pastors, agitators and board members, and candidates also have direct ties with the following extremist anti-government organizations:
Read more about Charlie Kirk on Media Matters.
Temecula Valley USD
Pastor/Church: Tim Thompson of 412 Church in Murrieta, CA
“Pastor Tim Thompson of the evangelical 412 Church in Temecula, California, believes that the public schools in that part of southwestern Riverside County are “the devil’s playground.”
Tompson was a guest on Charlie Kirk’s podcast Saving America with Charlie Kirk.
“Tim Thompson, a California pastor who made headlines after he was detained while protesting against pandemic restrictions in May 2020, testified that since the protests and clashes with school boards fighting what he calls “the indoctrination of our children,” he has seen “500%” growth at his church. “God’s definitely blessed it, for sure,” Thompson said.”
Elected School Board Members:
Jen Wiersma, Board member, endorsed by Moms for Liberty and IE Family PAC
Joseph Komrosky, Board president, endorsed by IE Family PAC
Danny Gonzalez, Board member, endorsed by IE Family PAC
School District Summary:
Once in office, IE Family PAC endorsed school board members who voted to ban CRT. A subsequent anti-CRT workshop for families descended into chaos when a Black resident spoke out against the CRT ban and was ejected from a meeting, and a white male adult threatened a Black child.
This summer, the school board caught the attention of Governor Newsom for banning a state-approved social studies book because it includes information about Harvey Milk after President Komrosky made homophobic claims that the slain LGBTQ leader was a “pedophile”. In response, the Governor announced he would purchase books for all students despite the board's decision.
Candidates for future office: Jason Craig
Agitators:
Jessica Tapia is a former teacher who was fired from Jurupa for saying she would out LGBTQ+ students without their consent, which violates state law. She did an interview on the Charlie Kirk show. Jessica Tapia now works with Tim Thompson on “Our Watch,” which is Thompson’s political show in Temecula.
Bryce Henson shows up at school board meetings throughout Southern California, often using different names. Using social media, Henson amplifies and encourages conflict at meetings. In this video, Henson is seen promoting TPUSA as an organization that can help others to take over school boards.
Ties to national extremist anti-government organizations: Moms for Liberty, Californians for Equal Rights Foundation, Proud Boys,
Chino Valley USD
Pastor / Church: Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills
“[Charlie Kirk] spoke at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, where he chastised Christians who have “gone along” with the “environmental agenda” because of “bad theology.”
Elected School Board Members:
Sonja Shaw: Board President, Elected 2022, Endorsed by Jack Hibbs, Signed the Moms for Liberty Pledge, Endorsed by CPU (California Parents United), Lexit, and others.
Jonathan (Jon) Monroe: Board Vice President, Elected in 2022, Endorsed by Jack Hibbs
Andrew Cruz: Board Member, Elected 2012, Endorsed by Jack Hibbs (2012, 2016, 2020)
James Na: Board Member, First Elected 2008, Endorsed by Jack Hibbs (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020)
School District Summary: Jack Hibs has a history of encouraging the board to take actions that result in district lawsuits. In 2014 Freedom From Religion Foundation filed a lawsuit against the Board after they preached from the dias during meetings after board members were publicly encouraged to do so by Jack Hibbs. Hibbs promised to pay all legal fees and encouraged the board to continue voting to appeal decisions, which they did. In the end, the school board lost the suit, costing the district almost $350K.
2018–2022: Effective Board
2022: Sonja Shaw and Jon Monroe won seats on the board, which flipped the board 4:1 far-right conservative. Jack Hibbs endorsed all four members, and 3 attend his church, Calvary Chapel Chino Hills.
April 2023: CVUSD Board passes a resolution supporting AB 1314, a controversial parental notification bill introduced to the California State Legislature’s Assembly Education Committee by Republican Assembly Members. (Three days later, the Chair of the committee denied it a hearing.) During the CVUSD board meeting, Proud Boys and Frank Rodriguez (then EO of Gay Against Groomers) showed their support by coming. The board invited Rodriguez to lead the pledge of allegiance. During this time, Proud Boys hung a banner stating on a Chino freeway overpass.
June 2023: In a move to ban the PRIDE flag during the month of PRIDE, the Board approved an update to a district ceremonies policy that bans all flags except the CA state flag and the US flag — in all forms, in all places. This also includes all renderings (e.g., photos, pins) everywhere on all campuses. The policy also mandates students who elect not to say the pledge of allegiance must sit silently and respectfully.
https://www.losangelesblade.com/2023/06/29/the-kids-arent-all-rightbecause-of-the-school-board/
July 2023: The Board violates state law, passing a “parents’ rights” policy that embeds the following language of AB 1314:
“THIS PARENTAL NOTIFICATION POLICY REQUIRES THE FOLLOWING: 1. PRINCIPAL/DESIGNEE, CERTIFICATED STAFF, AND SCHOOL COUNSELORS, SHALL NOTIFY THE PARENT(S)/GUARDIAN(S), IN WRITING, WITHIN THREE DAYS FROM THE DATE ANY DISTRICT EMPLOYEE, ADMINISTRATOR, OR CERTIFICATED STAFF, BECOMES AWARE THAT A STUDENT IS: July 20, 2023 Page 11 BP 5020.1(b) PARENTAL NOTIFICATION (cont.) (a) REQUESTING TO BE IDENTIFIED OR TREATED, AS A GENDER (AS DEFINED IN EDUCATION CODE SECTION 210.7) OTHER THAN THE STUDENT’S BIOLOGICAL SEX OR GENDER LISTED ON THE STUDENT’S BIRTH CERTIFICATE OR ANY OTHER OFFICIAL RECORDS. THIS INCLUDES ANY REQUEST BY THE STUDENT TO USE A NAME THAT DIFFERS FROM THEIR LEGAL NAME (OTHER THAN A COMMONLY RECOGNIZED DIMINUTIVE OF THE CHILD’S LEGAL NAME) OR TO USE PRONOUNS THAT DO NOT ALIGN WITH THE STUDENT’S BIOLOGICAL SEX OR GENDER LISTED ON THE STUDENT’S BIRTH CERTIFICATE OR OTHER OFFICIAL RECORDS. (b) ACCESSING SEX-SEGREGATED SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING ATHLETIC TEAMS AND COMPETITIONS, OR USING BATHROOMS OR CHANGING FACILITIES THAT DO NOT ALIGN WITH THE STUDENT’S BIOLOGICAL SEX OR GENDER LISTED ON THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE OR OTHER OFFICIAL RECORDS. © REQUESTING TO CHANGE ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE STUDENT’S OFFICIAL OR UNOFFICIAL RECORDS.”
Candidates for future office:
Agitators: Oscar Avilia (Lexit Organizer), Sonja Shaw (pre election; President of CV Parents/Parent Advocacy Chino Valley/Let Them Breath),
Ties to national extremist anti-government organizations: Proud Boys, Gay Against Groomers, Lexit, Let Them Breathe.
[TPUSA activity has also been seen at the following districts: Garden Grove, Glendale, Redlands, Chula Vista, and San Diego Unified school districts. Please share this information and check back for more updates as it is added. If you would like to share more information about a CA school district being targeted by TPUSA, please email me at ali@alimcollins.com.]
