Southern Maine Community College’s new Turning Point USA chapter made its public debut Monday, hosting its first tabling event amid a surge of national attention surrounding the organization following the death of TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk.
A “tabling” event refers to setting up a table in a heavily-trafficked area of a college campus to draw discussion and debate.
The chapter set up a red tent and branded tablecloth in one of the busiest spots on the South Portland campus, directly in front of the student center and the Seawolves Café, where chapter president Peter Bernaiche debated students and passers-by for five straight hours, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The event followed TPUSA’s national model of highly visible “tabling,” a grassroots outreach strategy used on campuses across the country to promote conservative ideas, recruit new members, and generate discussion. TPUSA encourages chapters to select high-traffic locations, display branded materials, and actively engage with anyone who approaches.
Much of Monday’s crowd consisted of students who stopped to confront or challenge Bernaiche.
“He’s talking crap. It’s so bad it’s funny,” said student Lucas Mayo.
Another attendee, who declined to be identified and wore a mask outdoors, said simply, “I’m not in favor, none of this is beneficial.”
A small group of students held signs and made their objections known throughout the afternoon.
Rylle Knight, who held a sign saying “TPUSA Is Just Hitler Youth,” told The Maine Wire that “TPUSA is fundamentally vile, this goes against the SMCC mission statement. TPUSA is a fascist organization.”
Student Aubree Gambel echoed that criticism, saying, “Everything he is saying is BS (edited). I’m surprised the school allows this.”
Not All Negative: “Debate is good, freedom of speech is great”
Though most reactions were confrontational, some backed the chapter’s right to be on campus.
“I think this is good, debate is good, freedom of speech is great,” said David Mulungula as he watched the ongoing debates with a group of his friends.
Another group of students who did not want to be identified, said “look at the crowd he is getting, some good stuff.”
Tabling Events Central to TPUSA Strategy
Turning Point USA, founded in 2012, focuses heavily on campus-based political activism. Its tabling events are designed to increase visibility, spark debate, distribute materials, and encourage students to sign up for future meetings.
Nationally, TPUSA chapters describe tabling as central to their campus identity, prioritizing face-to-face engagement, branded displays, and conversation on issues involving free speech, government power and cultural debates.
Monday’s event mirrored those efforts, with Bernaiche and his team engaging nearly nonstop as students cycled through the plaza.
Bernaiche told the Maine Wire after the tabling session, “What you’re seeing here today is the beginning of a cultural shift in Southern Maine. Students and community members are hungry for honest conversations, real debate, and the freedom to think for themselves again. We’re here to give them that platform, and we’re just getting started.”
Bernaiche said during the debates, the chapter has many events planned for 2026.
National Shockwaves After Charlie Kirk’s Assassination
The SMCC chapter’s debut comes during a major shift inside TPUSA following the September 10, 2025, assassination of founder Charlie Kirk, who was shot while speaking at a Utah Valley University event. His death sent shockwaves across the conservative movement and college-activism landscape.
TPUSA’s board later appointed Erika Kirk, his widow, as the organization’s new CEO and Chair, fulfilling what the board described as Kirk’s previously stated wishes. In the weeks following the shooting, several campus chapters reported spikes in membership and new student engagement.
That renewed energy has also given rise to heightened scrutiny of campus activism and political tension, a dynamic that played out visibly at SMCC.
Campus Climate Faces New Test
Monday’s event offered a preview of what future TPUSA activity at SMCC may look like: visible, confrontational, and drawing strong reactions from both supporters and detractors.
Whether the chapter grows or faces resistance will likely depend on how many SMCC students believe the campus should remain a place for heated and sometimes uncomfortable political debate.
