25 signatures reached
To: Governor Josh Shapiro and Penn Trafford Superintendent Dr. Matthew Harris
No Hate In Our Schools!
Dear Governor Shapiro and Penn Trafford School Board,
I am writing to raise urgent concerns about the establishment of a Turning Point USA/Charlie Kirk Student Club at Penn Trafford High School that has also been established in other participating school districts in Pennsylvania.
While I respect students’ rights to form clubs under the Equal Access Act, schools have a legal duty under Title VI (42 U.S.C. § 2000d), Title IX (20 U.S.C. § 1681), and Section 504/ADA to ensure that no student is subjected to discrimination or a hostile educational environment.
Charlie Kirk, the individual upon whom this club is based, has made numerous public statements targeting individuals and students based on race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity. For example:
- Called the Civil Rights Act of 1964 “a mistake”.
- Claimed Black people are “unqualified” for leadership positions.
- Denied the existence of Palestinians: “Palestinians do not exist.”
- Invoked Leviticus to reference stoning gay people “to death,” calling it “God’s perfect law.”
- Linked trans equality to inflation: “If you believe someone can change gender, why wouldn’t you believe that money is wealth?”
- Advocated Nuremberg-style trials for doctors providing gender-affirming care.
- Called transgenderism a “social contagion” and a “throbbing middle finger to God,” and praised punitive measures historically used against trans people.
- Described school shootings as “the small price to pay for our Second Amendment rights.”
Locally, a Penn Trafford student was quoted in video saying: “We are going to be spreading Charlie Kirk’s message across the board.” Recognition of the club would give official space to speech that denigrates protected classes and glorifies violence, creating a hostile environment.
Under federal law and Supreme Court precedent:
- Title VI and Title IX prohibit discrimination based on race, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
- Section 504 / ADA protects students with disabilities from discrimination.
- Brandenburg v. Ohio allows schools to prohibit speech that incites imminent lawless action or threatens student safety.
- The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights clarifies that districts must act when student clubs or messaging contribute to hostile environments or threats.
For these reasons, I urgently request that Governor Shapiro direct the Penn Trafford School District — and all Pennsylvania districts — to deny recognition of this club. Allowing it would expose students to discrimination, harassment, and violence, which schools are legally empowered to prohibit.
Thank you for your leadership in protecting the safety, dignity, and civil rights of Pennsylvania students.
Sincerely,
Concerned Students, Educators, Parents, and Families of the Penn Trafford School District
Why is this important?
Why This Matters: Protecting Students from Discrimination and Violence
We are asking the Penn Trafford School District — and all Pennsylvania Schools — to deny recognition of a Turning Point USA/Charlie Kirk student club.
This is not a matter of political opinion — it is about safety, civil rights, and preventing harassment and violence in our schools.
This is not a matter of political opinion — it is about safety, civil rights, and preventing harassment and violence in our schools.
Charlie Kirk and Turning Point USA's entire platform was built on discriminatory and extremist messaging that:
- Targets students based on race, national origin, religion, and sexual orientation.
- Advocates violence against LGBTQ+ students and gender-affirming care providers.
- Promotes racist, antisemitic, and white-supremacist rhetoric.
These messages are not abstract political disagreements. They create a hostile environment for students in protected classes, including LGBTQ+ and minority students, which schools are legally required to prevent under Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504.
Our biggest concern is that these groups — once limited to the dark corners of the internet, such as, but not limited to 4chan or Groyper communities — are now gaining official space in public schools.
This is deeply alarming because these groups intentionally target and manipulate young, white cisgender males with the intention of radicalizing them.
- Extremist ideology can radicalize young, impressionable students.
- Schools are meant to be safe spaces for all students. Allowing a club tied to hate speech and white supremacist rhetoric risks creating a hostile and unsafe environment.
- There is a real danger of violence occurring when hate and radicalization are normalized or given legitimacy.
We must ACT NOW to protect students’ rights and safety. Allowing this club would send the message that harassment, discrimination, and extremist beliefs are acceptable in our schools.
Sign this petition to ensure that Penn Trafford — and all Pennsylvania districts — deny recognition to this club, and prioritize the safety and dignity of every student.