A Texas high school student testified that administrators at his school subjected his Republican student club to repeated scrutiny and censorship while allowing outside Islamic organizations to distribute religious and Sharia-related materials on campus without interference.

Marco Hunter-Lopez, a 16-year-old sophomore at Wiley East High School in Wiley, Texas, described the incidents during testimony about what he called unequal treatment of conservative students and organizations.

“Thank you for the opportunity to testify today,” Hunter-Lopez said. “My name is Marco Hunter Lopez. I am a 16 year old sophomore at Wiley East High School in Wiley, Texas.”

Hunter-Lopez said he founded a Republican student club during his freshman year in an effort to create a space for students with conservative views.

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“Last year, as a freshman, I founded the Republican student club because I wanted to foster a space for students who share the same values,” Hunter-Lopez said.

According to Hunter-Lopez, what should have been a routine process became a prolonged dispute with school administrators.

“What should have been a simple act of student leadership became a prolonged battle against school administrators who treated my group differently from every other club on campus,” Hunter-Lopez said.

Hunter-Lopez testified that his group satisfied all official requirements for club approval.

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“On August 16 of 2024 we met every requirement, 10 members, a teacher, sponsor in a room,” Hunter-Lopez said.

He said other student groups, including the Muslim Student Association and organizations supporting gender ideology, were approved without difficulty while the Republican club was initially denied.

“Other groups, including the Muslim Student Association and organizations supporting gender affirming ideology, were approved without issue,” Hunter-Lopez said. “Our club was denied for being political in nature.”

Hunter-Lopez said administrators first claimed a district-wide policy prohibited political clubs but later admitted the decision was based on personal views after repeated requests for the policy in writing.

“Administrators first claimed a district wide policy against political clubs, then after weeks of emails requesting the policy in writing, they admitted it was simply how they felt,” Hunter-Lopez said.

According to Hunter-Lopez, the club was only approved after sustained pressure and repeated communication with administrators.

“Only after more than a month of emails pushed back and enormous efforts were we approved,” Hunter-Lopez said.

Even after approval, Hunter-Lopez said the club continued facing resistance from school officials.

“Even then we faced hostile scrutiny,” Hunter-Lopez said.

He testified that administrators removed approved posters and imposed additional rules after the club invited guest speakers.

“Principals were caught taking down our approved posters while I was out of town,” Hunter-Lopez said.

“I have a documented timeline of specific instances of an unfair treatment being pulled into the principal's office, cornered and talked down to after we hosted guest speaker,” Hunter-Lopez added.

Hunter-Lopez said his father helped create a guest speaker approval form to protect him as a minor after administrators attempted to impose new requirements.

“My father even had to create, help create a guest speaker form to protect me as a minor,” Hunter-Lopez said.

Hunter-Lopez contrasted that experience with an Islamic outreach event that took place at the school on February 2.

“On February 2, I was leaving a meeting and was walking to the cafeteria for lunch, and I saw a large booth labeled Islam set up in the school,” Hunter-Lopez said.

He said four women from an organization called Why Islam were present at the booth distributing materials and discussing religion with students.

“I had a discussion with the women, one in particular, who they kept referring me to, because she knew most of the theological questions,” Hunter-Lopez said.

During the interaction, Hunter-Lopez said he observed pamphlets related to Sharia law and Qurans containing conversion instructions.

“I looked over and saw multiple pamphlets spread out, one of which was explicitly titled Understanding Sharia,” Hunter-Lopez said.

He also described cards included with Qurans that instructed students how to convert to Islam.

“They were also making Qurans available that include a shahada card on the last page instructing students how to convert,” Hunter-Lopez said.

Hunter-Lopez argued the materials promoted ideas incompatible with American constitutional principles.

“The dangers of allowing Sharia to be promoted in public schools are real and immediate,” Hunter-Lopez said.

“Sharia is not simply religious, a personal religious observance,” Hunter-Lopez said. “It is a comprehensive legal and political system that includes unequal treatment, restrictions on free speech, harsh punishments and fundamental incompatibility with the US Constitution, Texas law and American values of individual liberty and equality.”

Hunter-Lopez accused administrators of applying different standards depending on the political or ideological viewpoint involved.

“The contrast with my own club could not be clear,” Hunter-Lopez said. “While the Republican student club faced denial, censorship, post removal and hostile oversight, an outside organization was given easy access to distribute Sharia related materials directly to students.”

He also alleged school officials actively promoted Islamic events while restricting conservative student activity.

“Administrators not only allowed it, they actively promoted Islamic events,” Hunter-Lopez said. “The principal has enthusiastically participated.”

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