HILLSDALE — Just over three dozen demonstrators gathered May 9 near the Hillsdale County Courthouse several hours before Turning Point CEO Erika Kirk was slated to deliver the commencement address at Hillsdale College.
Numerous participants traveled from outside Hillsdale County to protest the school’s influence on education and local institutions. According to organizers, demonstrators came from counties Macomb, Calhoun, Monroe and Branch, in addition to Hillsdale.
The protest was organized by area resident Anita Ledesma, who said the timing was intended to raise awareness among parents and visitors unfamiliar with the school’s broader role in national education initiatives.
“I wanted to bring awareness when parents would be here,” Ledesma said. “A lot of parents don’t know what’s happening here or what their students are being taught.”
Ledesma and other demonstrators criticized Hillsdale College President Larry Arnn and the school’s involvement in conservative education efforts — including the 1776 Commission, which Arnn previously chaired, and the expansion of classical education models through affiliated charter schools.
Participants also voiced opposition to school voucher programs and partnerships linked to Hillsdale College, including the Barney Charter School Initiative, arguing the efforts promote “ideological” education and what they described as “revisionist history.”
“We want people to look into these classical academies and see what they’re teaching,” Ledesma said. “People should research voucher programs and where that money is going.”
While organizers acknowledged turnout was smaller than expected, they attributed participation levels to scheduling conflicts with other high school and college graduation ceremonies.
“We hoped it would be bigger,” Ledesma said. “There were organizations that wanted to be here but couldn’t because of other graduations.”
Ledesma believes widespread opposition exists, even though Hillsdale County learns heavily Republican. She added some residents are reluctant to speak publicly.
“This area is conservative, but that doesn’t mean everyone agrees,” she said. “A lot of people are afraid to speak out.”
The school announced the selection of Kirk as commencement speaker March 6. Kirk was appointed to lead Turning Point USA following the assassination of her husband, the organization’s founder Charlie Kirk, in September 2025.
— Contact reporter Corey Murray at cmurray@hillsdale.net or follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @cmurrayhdn.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Protest centers on Hillsdale College during visit from Erika Kirk
Reporting by Corey J. Murray, Hillsdale Daily News / Hillsdale Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
