A twisted Illinois State University faculty member was arrested after allegedly flipping a Turning Point USA table on campus this week, viral video shows.
The accused vandal, Derek Lopez, was caught on camera speaking to a man standing near the table — which had been set up by students in the group to promote political YouTuber and comedian Alex Stein’s Oct. 20 event at the university, according to video, local police and various X posts about the ugly incident.
“Well, you know, Jesus did it, so you know I gotta do it, right?” Lopez, 27, of El Paso, Ill. — a teacher’s assistant and graduate student at the university — tells the man before the footage shows him tossing the table over, sending pins, flyers and other items rocketing into the air.
x/jessburbac
NO CLASS: A teacher’s assistant at Illinois State University flips over a Turning Point USA students’ table and tears down flyers promoting an upcoming event. pic.twitter.com/v4yg5eTKMg
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 18, 2025
Lopez who sports red pants, a black and red flannel and a bun in the clip, is then seen taking off with a wave.
“Thanks guys, have a great day,” he sneers.
Lopez – who allegedly disrupted a second informational table hosted by a student organization – was arrested by cops on Friday, and charged with disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property, the Illinois State University Police Department wrote on Facebook.
Details about the second incident were not immediately available.
Video of him tossing the Turning Point USA table, which has amassed nearly 50,000 views on Fox News’ X profile since it was posted Saturday afternoon, has sparked fierce backlash online, where thousands of commenters have called on the university to act.
“Imagine paying $30K a year for tuition just to see your TA reenact a toddler meltdown in 4K. No class, literally,” one user wrote.
“Actions like that show a complete lack of respect for free speech and open debate. College should be about ideas, not tantrums and censorship,” another said.
“He should not be in any class with those temper tantrums,” another echoed.
