INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Gov. Mike Braun on Thursday urged schools and universities to allow students to join groups regardless of their political leanings, including conservative groups.

His remarks came during an event at the Governor’s Mansion with members of Club America, the high school arm of Turning Point USA, the conservative group founded by the late Charlie Kirk. The governor issued a proclamation calling freedom of speech “a foundational human right” and declaring it “a core value worthy of protection.” The proclamation specifically cited Turning Point USA.

“I call on all schools and universities in Indiana to take all necessary steps to facilitate student organizations—such as Turning Point USA—that foster the values of liberty and freedom of speech in their students and institutions.”

In his remarks Thursday morning, Braun praised the work of Club America in reaching and mobilizing young conservatives. He said the proclamation is about protecting speech, not suppressing it.

“It’s going to be an even playing field. I’m about equal opportunity, no bigotry, none of that stuff, everybody has a voice, make sure you respect the other side’s voice. Win it by making the best case,” said Braun.

Braun’s proclamation is the second time in two days the state of Indiana has explicitly endorsed or partnered with Turning Point USA or one of its affiliates. On Tuesday, Secretary of State Diego Morales announced his office will partner with Club America to register young people to vote. Neither Club America nor Turning Point USA themselves endorse candidates. However, Turning Point Action, a political action committee Kirk founded in 2019, regularly endorses candidates it says reflects the organization’s values.

Senate Minority Leader Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, called those two announcements concerning. She said the problem with partnering with a branch of Turning Point USA is that the organization has a specific political viewpoint and openly endorses a specific religious worldview.

“What does that mean for students attending those schools? What kind of pressures is that going to be putting on these schools and the students who attend those schools?” she said. “I think this is an announcement that every Hoosier should be asking more questions, and we demand to hear from the administration, what exactly does this mean, or was this just kind of for show?”

Braun said students who want to form student groups, such as a Club America chapter, will still have to go through whatever steps are required by the local school administration.

“This does nothing that says you’ve got to do it. It just creates the opportunity to make the case to do so,” said Braun.