Rutgers University’s Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapter has issued a strong rebuttal to a petition seeking its disbandment, calling the initiative ‘blatantly defamatory.’ The petition, launched by technology developer Alexander Di Filippo, accuses the chapter of promoting ‘hate speech’ and inciting violence against the university community, leading to a professor’s decision to relocate his family to Europe due to safety concerns. Ava Kwan, outreach coordinator for the TPUSA chapter at Rutgers, emphasized that the accusations are false, asserting, ‘The accusations of ‘inciting violence’ and ‘making threats’ are complete lies.’ Kwan further criticized the petition’s creators, stating, ‘The same people claiming we’re suppressing their free speech are actively trying to silence us for speaking the truth. It’s not just ironic, it’s hypocritical and absurd.’
Di Filippo, a former student at Rochester Institute of Technology, initiated the petition, which argues that TPUSA’s activities have created a ‘toxic environment’ at Rutgers. The petition claims that the chapter’s actions have led to tragic consequences, including a respected professor’s decision to leave the country due to threats and harassment. Kwan, however, dismissed these claims as part of a broader effort to undermine the chapter’s activities, suggesting that the petition reflects a loss of control. She stated, ‘Any opinion that challenges their worldview is immediately branded as ‘hate speech,’ a meaningless term weaponized to control dissent and protect their false narrative.’ Kwan also pointed to her own doxxing by ‘unhinged Rutgers leftists’ as evidence of the chapter’s perceived threats.
The controversy intensified with the launch of a petition to remove Mark Bray, a Rutgers professor known for his Antifa-affiliated writings. Bray, author of the book ‘Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook,’ has faced criticism for his advocacy of political violence, which has led to his family’s decision to move to Europe. The TPUSA chapter at Rutgers has been instrumental in promoting this petition, which seeks to address Bray’s alleged ties to Antifa. In response, Megyn Doyle, a student and treasurer of the TPUSA chapter, criticized Di Filippo’s petition as slanderous, stating, ‘The petition once again proves that Conservative students are always on the receiving end of hate when speaking about concerning issues.’ Doyle emphasized that the petition is defamatory and not grounded in genuine concerns for free speech. She argued, ‘To suggest that we are responsible for making such threats against this professor is completely untrue,’ while noting that many signatories of the petition believe Bray should not be employed due to his controversial stance.
Rutgers University has taken a neutral stance, stating its commitment to free speech and academic freedom. In a statement, the university affirmed, ‘Rutgers is committed to providing a secure environment — to learn, teach, work, and research, where all members of our community can share their opinions without fear of intimidation or harassment.’ However, the university declined to comment on specific personnel or student conduct matters. The ongoing disputes reflect the broader ideological divides within academic institutions, with TPUSA’s activities drawing criticism from opposing factions over its influence and messaging.