WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – A Watertown High School club would be the first of its kind in the north country if it gets approved by the school board.
Club America is associated with the non-partisan, non-profit Turning Point USA, founded by the late Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed in September at an event in Utah.
“What piqued my interest is when Charlie Kirk died. I didn’t like it at all. I wanted to spread his word and continue the spread of his legacy,” said Brady Horton, president, Club America Watertown Chapter.
Horton hopes the club gets approval from the school board Tuesday night.
“I’m hoping that this will allow, particularly students in the north country, to express their thoughts freely. I know that I will hold weekly meetings in which we will debate and allow students to display their ideas and thoughts freely without being ridiculed,” he said.
Club America has chapters in Onondaga and Oswego counties. High schools in Mexico, Fulton, Central Square, Cicero-North Syracuse, and Baldwinsville are up and running.
Following Kirk’s assassination, participation has boomed.
“We have started 34 chapters in this region,” said Michelle Erdt, the high school field representative in the Snowbelt Territory.
Erdt is traveling from Buffalo to be at the board meeting Tuesday. She hopes to humanize the club to the board.
“It’s giving students a chance to exist within their school and talk with each other and share ideas. Honestly, a lot of these students, a lot of these chapters are doing really good things in the community,” she said.
She says it’s open to everyone.
“You can be a Democrat, you can be a Republican, you can be a Libertarian. You can be a Christian, you can be a non-Christian. Just come to Club America,” she said.
The club is being voted on at the Watertown board meeting Tuesday night.
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