TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Snow, security, and shouting framed the launch of Turning Point USA’s newest campus chapter Tuesday night at Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) in Traverse City, where a packed room of supporters gathered inside while protesters were corralled into a temporary free-speech zone outside in ten-degree temperatures.
The launch party ran from 5 to 7 p.m. at NMC’s Innovation Center and drew an overflow crowd of more than 100 people packed inside the room – a mix of students and, overwhelmingly, community members who came to show support for the conservative students. Security was visibly present both inside and outside the room, with NMC staff on hand as well as law enforcement nearby.
Inside: packed room, clear message.
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Nineteen-year-old chapter president Breanna told attendees the moment demanded courage, not silence. In her remarks, she framed the current political and cultural climate as more than a partisan divide. “It’s no longer a left versus right,” she said. “It’s a battle between good and evil – and that’s why Christians and the next generation need to step up and not withdraw.”
Breanna told Michigan News Source that her path into politics was shaped long before college. Raised in a politically active household, she grew up attending rallies alongside her mother and was taught early that civic engagement matters. A Traverse City native, Breanna was homeschooled and also completed business classes through the Career Tech Center where she served as student council president. After completing her courses at NMC she plans to transfer to pursue either criminal justice or law.
She said the idea to form a Turning Point USA chapter had already been taking shape, but the assassination of Charlie Kirk solidified her resolve. “I’ve always wanted to be part of something meaningful,” she told attendees. “After Charlie’s death, that desire became a responsibility.” Breanna said watching civil discourse deteriorate on campuses convinced her that students – particularly young Christians – need a space to speak openly, leading her to formally establish the Turning Point chapter at NMC after completing the college’s student organization approval process late last fall.
Breanna went on to say about the Turning Point organization, “Turning Point promotes civil liberties, traditional Christian values, and individual responsibility, while protecting free speech and encouraging respectful dialogue on campus. Our chapter also emphasizes personal strength and preparedness. We encourage students to unplug from their constant screens, reconnect with the outdoors, and develop discipline and resilience by encouraging sports, physical activity, and self defense training.”
Debates, tabling, game nights and “Hot Wings & Hot Topics” on the agenda.
Breanna said the Turning Point chapter at NMC plans to host biweekly meetings centered on discussion, civic education, and community engagement. Events will include debates, tabling (when a group sets up a table in a public area to share information, talk with people, and recruit or promote an event or cause), game nights, movie screenings, and other activities designed to spark conversation, such as a planned “Hot Wings and Hot Topics” event. Organizers stressed that the goal is open dialogue and civil discourse and that meetings will be open to students interested in conversation, even if they disagree.
Student leaders say Turning Point offers peaceful advocacy and support on campus.
In addition to Breanna, the NMC Turning Point team also includes Vice President Hunter, Secretary Cameron, and Treasurer Kolsen, along with student Carson, who manages the group’s social media presence. Cameron said the group needs supporters and donors to help them fight against the people who are trying to shut them down. He emphasized that the organization provides a way to advocate for beliefs openly and without violence. “This is one of the greatest things about this organization,” he said. “We get to fight for the things that we want to fight for – peacefully and patriotically.”
Carson, a business student, said he got involved because he wants truth to enter the political arena. He believes honest media can reduce division, saying, “When you have an honest media, there’s less division.”
Supporters welcome conservative presence on campus.
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Several supporters interviewed said they came specifically to support the conservative student group launch successfully in liberal Traverse City.
Richard Ferguson, a Traverse City Trump supporter who brought his 10-year-old son to the event said, “I have a young friend who is political who is going here (NMC) and he is helping to get this event going and I support Charlie Kirk and Turning Point and I’m trying to bring my son up with conservative Christian values.” He went on to say that he’s supported Turning Point for about three years, even before the conservative leader was assassinated.
73-year-old Jim Schultz from Interlochen said he came to the event out of support for Turning Point and its conservative principles. He explained that he became familiar with the organization after Kirk’s assassination and learned more about the organization and its principles.
He added that he came to the launch party to find out what is transpiring in his hometown. Schultz, a former precinct delegate, also expressed his support of the Right to Life movement and the upcoming National March for Life on Friday, January 23rd.
Outside: about 30 protesters inside a designated free speech zone.
While the crowd inside grew larger before the speeches started, roughly 30 protesters were outside for the duration of the event in a temporary, designated free-speech zone set up by the college. Protesters held signs, chanted, and shouted at attendees as they entered and exited the building.
Emma from Traverse City who held a sign that said “Morality over Martyrdom” told Michigan News Source that she wasn’t an NMC student but said she has several friends who are students at the college. She said she and others were there to “stand up against what they’re trying to form here and prevent them from inviting people from TP USA in the future.” She added that she had concerns about student safety because of the large “queer” population that goes to NMC.
Another protester holding a sign reading “Love thy neighbour (sic) means love everyone equal” identified herself as an NMC student finishing her associate’s degree and said it was important to speak up and “do what’s right.”
The protest was discussed online before the event and promoted on Facebook by Traverse Indivisible, a left-leaning activist group. They called the protest a “self organizing” event by the students and gave tips on how participants should conduct themselves if they attended the protest. They also posted, “Labeled as a hate group by the Anti-Defamation League, TPUSA promotes Christian nationalism, amplification of conspiracy theories, and provides a platform for bigoted statements targeting Black, LGBTQ+, and immigrant communities.”
A tense moment inside.
Inside the room, tension surfaced soon after the speeches concluded. Near the front, a table of roughly six attendees – clearly not supporters – sat taking notes, recording video, and playing what one organizer described as an inappropriate, anti–Charlie Kirk mocking song. The AI-generated track, “We Are Charlie Kirk,” was originally created as an earnest tribute but, because of its exaggerated and intentionally cheesy tone, has since been adopted by activists who oppose Turning Point USA as a form of mockery.
Shortly after that, one of the individuals at the table also played a loud, high-pitched dog whistle on their phone. NMC’s Student Code of Conduct makes clear that students are not permitted to disrupt or interfere with college events or activities and doesn’t allow conduct involving threats, intimidation, harassment.
Staff intervenes after disruptive noise draws attention.
Several NMC staff members approached the table to address the noise, with one pointing to an unidentified young man’s phone – apparently reminding him of campus rules. A staffer then asked him to step into the lobby to talk, which he did not do. As he spoke with staff, most of the others at the table left, while he remained seated. Before the last staffer walked away, the male nodded – and the dog whistle noise was not resumed. Afterward, when asked why NMC staff had spoken to him, he said “I don’t know what’s happening” and denied any wrongdoing.
As the event wrapped up and tensions outside continued, security presence was there to ensure attendees could leave safely. Following the conclusion of the event, members of the Turning Point USA team were escorted out of the building by Michigan State Police and campus security. As they exited, protesters gathered outside shouted insults, including chants of “Nazis,” despite protest signs that read, “Spread love not hate” and “Hawk Owls Don’t Hate.”
