Outrage Erupts After Illinois Teacher’s Assistant Caught Destroying Turning Point USA Table on Campus: “Find Him — He Needs To Be Arrested”
NORMAL, ILLINOIS — A shocking video circulating on X (formerly Twitter) has sparked widespread outrage after a man — alleged to be a teacher’s assistant at Illinois State University — was caught on camera flipping a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) Students table during what witnesses described as a peaceful campus event.
The viral footage, shared by the account @Bubblebathgirl, shows the man wearing a red plaid shirt approaching the student booth, exchanging a few words, and then abruptly overturning the entire table, scattering flyers, buttons, and materials across the ground.
Before doing so, the man can be heard saying, “Well, you know Jesus did it, so you know I gotta do it right?” Moments later, after flipping the table, he nonchalantly adds, “Thanks guys, have a great day,” before walking away.
Viral Video Sparks Immediate Backlash
The clip quickly amassed thousands of views within hours, with social media users condemning the act as both unprovoked and violent. Many pointed out that the TPUSA students — part of the conservative student organization founded by Charlie Kirk — were not engaging in any hostile behavior before the incident.
One X user wrote, “Is a violent man like this TA who you’d want teaching your child?” while another added, “Find him. He needs to be arrested and charged.”
Turning Point USA Students table was flipped over this week by a teacher assistant at Illinois State University.
Is a violent man like this TA who you’d want teaching your child?
Anyone know who he is?pic.twitter.com/JqTmRjT9qS
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) October 17, 2025
As the video spread, calls grew louder for the man’s identification and for the university to take disciplinary action. Several commenters also tagged Illinois State University’s official account demanding a response.
Internet Sleuths Claim To Have Identified the Individual
It didn’t take long for online users to start piecing together clues. Within hours, accounts on X began sharing screenshots of an Instagram profile allegedly belonging to a man named Derek S. Lopez, who some claim is the individual seen in the video.
Screenshots of the account showed several politically charged posts, including one reading, “I stand with punching ICE in the face,” and another with the caption, “Come and tread on me.”
Those resurfaced posts quickly fueled further scrutiny. Users on X alleged that Lopez’s online activity “encouraged violence” and urged authorities to investigate whether he was affiliated with the university.
“If he’s teaching students while posting things like this, ISU needs to take action,” one user wrote. “This is completely unprofessional and dangerous.”
University Yet To Issue Official Statement
As of Sunday evening, Illinois State University officials have not released a public statement addressing whether the man is currently employed by the school. However, discussions have already spread across Reddit and other platforms, with some claiming to have contacted the administration directly.
Campus witnesses described the TPUSA students as “startled but calm” following the incident. No injuries were reported, but many students expressed concern about political tensions escalating on college campuses.
“We just want to have our table and talk to people,” said one TPUSA member in a follow-up video. “Nobody deserves to be treated like that.”
Broader Debate on Free Speech and Campus Conduct
The viral incident has reignited national debate over free speech, political bias, and behavior among educators. Supporters of TPUSA argue that conservative students are increasingly targeted for their views, while others say the focus should remain on promoting respectful discourse on campuses.
“This shouldn’t happen at any university — left, right, or center,” wrote one viewer. “If someone disagrees with a viewpoint, flipping a table isn’t the answer.”
As of now, the video continues to circulate widely across social media platforms, with hashtags like #IllinoisStateUniversity and #TurningPointUSA trending regionally.
Do you think universities should discipline staff members for actions like this caught on video? Share your thoughts and experiences with us at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
