Tomi Lahren went to speak at the University of New Mexico. Student's welcomed her...

[TigressDem]

16. So Turning Point USA is a Student Organization that invited her, but it's tied itself to tRump.

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/controversial-political-speaker-draws-protest-at-unm/

“The University of New Mexico is committed to the principles of free speech and values its role as a public square for debate, a marketplace of ideas, and a place to test and challenge competing viewpoints and opinions. In this context, allowing speakers invited by a student organization on campus in no way implies an endorsement of the content of their speeches or their opinions. And those who disagree with the ideas expressed are encouraged to respectfully voice their perspectives.”



BUT many of the students weren't having it.

A conservative nonprofit organization called Turning Point USA presented “Talking with Tomi” inside UNM’s Student Union building. But dozens of students said there was no place for her here. “We don’t like racism on our campus or in our state so that’s the main reason we’re here is just to support and let people know that we’re not okay with this rhetoric being spoken about on our campus,” Diego Renteria, a UNM student said.

The protest even made its way into the building with Lahren speaking just behind the doors. But others came out to learn more about her, who she is, and what she preaches. “I just wanted to form my own opinion on her, on this whole situation because, I obviously have the freedom to speak on my opinions but I need to have those validated and backed up by all of the facts and not just make a decision based on my peers,” Adriana Gutierrez, a UNM student said.





More about Turning Point
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/23/turning-point-rightwing-youth-group-critics-tactics


Founded in 2012 by then-18-year-old Charlie Kirk and headquartered in Arizona – where it has built a robust base now backing Trump-endorsed candidates like a former Fox news star running for governor – TPUSA’s revenues have soared from $4.3m in 2016 to almost $39.8m in 2020, according to public tax filings.

TPUSA boasts it has allies on more than 2,500 high school and college campuses and is the “largest and fastest growing youth organization in America”. The group, which has non-profit charity status that bars political work, also has a political arm called Turning Point Action that can do election work.

The two groups’ fealty to Trump has generated mounting criticism and alarm. Kirk and his outfits have been vocal exponents of baseless claims of election fraud, promoting the 6 January rally that featured Trump’s call to “fight like hell” before the Capitol attack, and running Facebook ads with blatant falsehoods about Covid-19 vaccinations.