A West Michigan high school club backed by Turning Point USA said it has canceled a meeting slated for Thursday, Nov. 12, following backlash over Instagram posts that publicized the session and questioned the role of Muslims in America.

The Jenison High School Club America group, a student-led organization backed by Turning Point USA with chapters nationwide, initially posted the meeting at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 12 in the high school’s media center. The pair of posts asked “Are Muslims bad news for America?” and “Is Islam compatible with Western Civilization?”

The posts no longer appear on the “jhsclubamerica” Instagram page, but a new message saying the meeting has been canceled has been posted.

The club’s cancellation post said “Stay tuned for further updates,” but provided no additional information.

School officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Fox 17, a West Michigan TV station, said it had obtained a letter sent to families in the district that said district officials and the club agreed to cancel the meeting.

“Given the specific safety concerns and the potential for significant disruption associated with this meeting, the district and club organizers have determined that the event cannot proceed as scheduled,” the letter attributed to Superintendent Brandon Graham said.

Michigan, this month, elected the first Muslim senator in U.S. history, Abdul El-Sayed. El-Sayed’s religion was a significant factor in the race with several outside groups attacking him through TV ads and his opponent, Mike Rogers, claiming he was linked to terror groups.

What is Club America?

The organization, backed by Turning Point USA, the group founded by the late Charlie Kirk, claims to have more than 3,500 clubs nationwide and more than 58,000 high school students involved.

“Club America serves to empower the patriotic leaders of tomorrow. Students who lead Club America chapters will be empowered to build strong networks, spearhead impactful initiatives, help students register to vote, and inspire meaningful conversations about the foundations of a free society,” the organization’s website says.

What is Turning Point USA?

Founded in 2012 by Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated in Utah in 2025, Turning Point USA says its mission is to “identify, educate, train, and organize Americans to champion the principles of fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government.”

The group says its goal is to “win the culture war.”

Kirk’s group was aimed primarily at college students, although now there are chapters in high schools across the country.

Who was Charlie Kirk?

Kirk, who was 31 when killed, was a right-wing speaker and podcaster whose views inspired millions and infuriated millions of others. He was shot to death Sept. 10, 2025, while speaking to students at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, as part of his “American Comeback Tour.”

Utah prosecutors said at the time that they would seek the death penalty against the 22-year-old accused of shooting Kirk. The suspect, Tyler Robinson, was charged with aggravated murder in a 10-page criminal information on Sept. 16, 2025.

The BBC reported this week that his trial is set for June 2028.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: West Michigan TPUSA club cancels anti-Muslim meeting. What they asked

Reporting by Dan Basso, USA TODAY NETWORK / Lansing State Journal

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect