McLean County Times

Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights for the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, said that the Illinois State University table-flipping incident demonstrated anti-speech conduct by a state employee. The statement was made on X.

"This is outrageous anti-speech conduct by a state employee," said Dhillon. "What's up, Illinois State University?"

According to the New York Post, a widely circulated video from Illinois State University showed a graduate teaching assistant, identified in reports as Derek Lopez, flipping a Turning Point USA student's table that was promoting an Alex Stein #99 event and removing flyers. Lopez was subsequently arrested and faced charges including disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property. The incident sparked national discussion about campus expression and standards of employee conduct.

Illinois State University has affirmed its constitutional duty to uphold free speech rights regardless of viewpoint, emphasizing that even offensive or unpopular speech is protected under the First Amendment and the Illinois Constitution. The university's resources outline rights, responsibilities, and methods for constructive engagement, stressing that expression—including political advocacy—should be countered with counter-speech rather than disruption or destruction of materials.

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s 2025 College Free Speech Rankings analyzed over 58,000 student responses across 257 campuses, reporting ongoing self-censorship and challenges in discussing contentious topics. FIRE’s related brief highlights increasing discomfort around issues such as Israel-Palestine and underscores the necessity for institutional policies that safeguard open discourse and viewpoint diversity.

Dhillon was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in April 2025 as Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. A seasoned First Amendment and civil rights litigator, she founded Dhillon Law Group and the Center for American Liberty. As AAG, she oversees enforcement of federal civil rights statutes and has prioritized campus free speech, religious liberty, and related issues in public statements and Division materials.