Turning Point USA local chapter meets at UAF

By Colin A. Warren

Photo by Lizzy Hahn

TPUSA President Oscar Smedley engages a packed crowd as donations pour in to the right-wing organization.

Update as of Sept. 29:

TPUSA at UAF met again on Sept. 25 in the Usibelli building. This meeting was only attended by 25 people. Smedley discussed the importance of keeping religion separate from politics. They played a word game in which the most common words that made them think of America were: freedom, burgers, and flags.

“Our ultimate goal is to keep the first amendment and seek to create a space where open conversations can occur, Smedley said. “That’s incredibly valuable in our politically disconnected society.”

TPUSA at UAF will hold weekly meetings on Thursdays at 6 p.m.

Original Story:

Eight days after Charlie Kirk’s assassination during his visit to Utah Valley University, Kirk’s conservative non-profit advocacy group Turning Point USA, or TPUSA, held a meeting in the Wood Center. Before Kirk’s death the UAF chapter had four members — over 120 people were at the meeting on Thursday. 

Although they were not all students; there were many older people in the crowd, including established Fairbanks conservatives like Fairbanks Assemblywoman Barbara Haney, State Representatives Frank Tomaszewski and Mike Prax, and Fairbanks City Council candidate Hannah Ekalook.

TPUSA at UAF Chapter President Oscar Smedley told The Sun Star that he loved that people were not isolating themselves in grief over Kirk’s death, that they were willing to gather and talk about the future. 

TPUSA is a conservative youth movement juggernaut that Kirk built from scratch. Kirk specialized in rock n’ roll-style conferences with high-profile right-wing speakers and tour titles like “Exposing Critical Racism” or “You’re Being Brainwashed.” Although Kirk was most famous for his open debate policy, he often stood behind controversial views like calling Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “a bad man,” endorsing the so-called Great Replacement Theory that says nonwhite immigrants will displace white Americans, and various anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, amongst others. 

Smedley said that they plan to grow their club by challenging people’s preconceived notions of conservative values. 

“I see harmful blanket labels thrown over our community by people who have never spoken to us,” he told The Sun Star.

At the meeting, while the group had a lively Q&A session they passed around a Trump 47 hat as a fundraiser. They collected over $600. Smedley said they will use the money for an American flag, flag etiquette training, future events and outreach.

Kirk’s memorial was held on Sunday Sept. 21 in Arizona where President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance both spoke to a packed arena.