On Tuesday evening, a group of protesters gathered at a Lincolnshire intersection to express their opposition to a conservative Christian educators’ summit. This event was organized by Turning Point USA at a nearby hotel. The protest was planned by two Lake County chapters of Indivisible, a progressive activist group, in response to the Turning Point Educators’ Summit held at the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort. Organizers warned that the group’s objectives involve introducing “white Christian nationalism” into schools.
Indivisible Western Lake County and Indivisible Northeast Lake County coordinated the protest, which attracted about 60 to 70 people. Katie Sayler from Indivisible NE Lake County stated that their goal is to stand against authoritarianism and support community neighbors. Sayler highlighted that the protest aimed to communicate to the summit attendees that they were not welcomed. She emphasized that their branch is intentionally nonpartisan, focusing on extremist ideologies rather than partisan politics. Sayler expressed concern over the messaging of Turning Point USA, noting the dangers she associates with their views.
Turning Point Education, a part of TPUSA, has organized its annual summit in Lake County for the second time. In 2023, their event was held in Deerfield. At the time of reporting, TPUSA did not comment on the protest. Sayler accused TPUSA of aiming to influence the educational system and reduce rights, including women’s voting rights, and limits in education diversity.
Turning Point Education’s website openly embraces its Christian and conservative stance. These values are among the five pillars of the group. The website expresses a commitment to “reclaiming the education of our children, reviving virtuous education focused on truth, goodness, and beauty, and restoring God as the foundation of education.” The summit featured nearly 30 speakers, including TPUSA CEO Erica Kirk. Several Republican politicians and conservative activists also spoke, promoting a “Biblical worldview” in classrooms.
The protest included chanting, sign-waving, and drum-beating, with some chants directed at President Donald Trump and TPUSA. Julia Plescia, a Grayslake resident, participated because of concerns about religious indoctrination in schools. As a former school nurse and board member, she felt the summit’s impact on local education could be significant.
Lake County has shifted toward Democratic preferences over the years, transitioning from Republican-dominated to predominantly Democratic in its voting patterns. During local controversies, such as those involving transgender student rights, liberal symbols were more prominent than conservative ones.
Despite this shift, some believe that groups like TPUSA could still make inroads. Joe Salvi, a young Republican candidate for the Lake County Board, has expressed intentions to rejuvenate Republican presence in the county. Salvi is involved in establishing “Club America” chapters, linked to Turning Point at local high schools. Although claiming chapters in multiple schools, confirmation is available only for Lake Forest.
Political leadership in Lake County has seen changes, with new leadership for both major parties. State Rep. Daniel Didech and Dawn Abernathy have new leadership roles, seeking to guide their respective parties strategically.
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