UIC Students Host Victory Rally After Kicking TPUSA Off Campus

Students organize counter-protest, force right-wing group to cancel event

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

On March 4, 30 students at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) rallied in the quad to celebrate the cancellation of a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) event after the students organized a counter-protest. The counter-protest, organized by the New Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) chapter, was meant to happen at the same time as the TPUSA event featuring a speaker with a history of anti-immigrant rhetoric. TPUSA canceled the event, citing weather, but the students saw it as a victory after their mobilization.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between progressive student groups and right-wing organizations like TPUSA on college campuses. It also raises questions about the role of university administrations in allowing or restricting certain groups from hosting events, and the ability of students to organize and push back against hateful rhetoric.

The details

The SDS counter-protest was endorsed by several other student groups, including Anakbayan, Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), Mexican Students de Aztlán, Housing Staff United, Socialist Alternative, Fearless Undocumented Alliance, Radical Public Health, and the Union of Puerto Rican Students. During the rally, UIC administration tried to force the students to move off the grass, but they continued the event as planned. Organizers called on students to join SDS for a town hall on March 19 to continue pressuring the UIC administration.

  • The counter-protest was organized for March 4.
  • TPUSA canceled their event the night before, citing weather.
  • SDS is hosting a town hall on March 19.

The players

New Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)

A student activist group at the University of Illinois Chicago that organized the counter-protest against the TPUSA event.

Turning Point USA (TPUSA)

A conservative student organization that had planned an event at UIC featuring a speaker with a history of anti-immigrant rhetoric, but canceled the event after the SDS counter-protest was announced.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This is what happens when we stand together and organize, we rip the masks off of right-wing grifters and expose them as what they are: Cowards!”

— River Argyilan, Co-chair of the SDS chapter at UIC (Fight Back! News)

“Groups like TPUSA are simply fog machines. Like a real fog machine, it can be broken with your foot or fist. On the campuses and streets, they can be pushed out with the power of the people. We are determined to unite all who can be united to march through the fog towards our enemy, the ruling class of billionaires and their political representatives in the White House.”

— Gio Araujo, On behalf of Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) (Fight Back! News)

What’s next

Organizers called on students to join SDS for a town hall on March 19 to continue to put pressure on the UIC administration to fund cultural centers, declare a sanctuary campus, and stop capitulating to the Trump agenda.

The takeaway

This incident demonstrates the power of student organizing to push back against right-wing groups like TPUSA and hold university administrations accountable for allowing hateful rhetoric on campus. It also highlights the ongoing struggle between progressive and conservative forces on college campuses across the country.