Young Americans for Liberty

Not to be confused with Young Americans for Freedom.
Young Americans for Liberty
AbbreviationYAL
Formation2008 (2008)
TypeStudent Organization, 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4)
PurposePolitical activism
Region served
United States
CEO
Lauren Daugherty
AffiliationsStudents for Ron Paul, Campaign for Liberty, Youth for Ron Paul, Students for Rand
Websiteyaliberty.org

Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) is a libertarian-conservative student activist organization headquartered in Austin, Texas. Formed in 2009 in the aftermath of the Ron Paul 2008 presidential campaign, YAL establishes chapters on high school and college campuses across the United States, for the purpose of "advancing liberty on campus and in American electoral politics." It has also been described as "building the youth army for liberty."[1]

YAL is active on nearly 400 college and university campuses, representing thousands of students.[2][3] Its members regularly engage in activities protected by the First Amendment.[4]

History

YAL was founded in 2009 at the end of Congressman Ron Paul's first presidential campaign. Paul's candidacy inspired students to organize on-campus under the banner of Students for Ron Paul. After the 2008 presidential election in November, the movement continued, soon becoming Young Americans for Liberty.[5][6]

Beginning in 2009, YAL hosted annual National Conventions in Arlington, Virginia. More than 300 students attended the 2014 convention.[7] Speakers included U.S. Senator Rand Paul and former U.S. Representative Ron Paul, with a video address by Glenn Greenwald.[8][9] Speakers at the 2016 convention included speakers Ron Paul and U.S. Representative Justin Amash, Judge Andrew Napolitano, and David Boaz of the Cato Institute.[10]

In March 2011, 78 YAL chapters across 32 states organized a student protest of the national debt. Each chapter constructed a 40-foot debt clock and placed it in the middle of their campus.[11][12][13]

In April 2014, two YAL students at the University of Hawaii filed a federal lawsuit after they were prevented from handing out copies of the U.S. Constitution.[14]

In September 2016, three YAL students passed out pocket constitutions on a public walkway at Kellogg Community College (KCC) in Battle Creek, Michigan.[15] The students were approached by Drew Hutchinson, the school's Manager of Student Life, and told to shut down the event on grounds that it violated the school's "speech permit policy."[15] After refusing to do so, the students were arrested by campus police and jailed for over seven hours.[16]

YAL and the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) subsequently filed suit.[17] Meanwhile, KCC's speech restrictions remained in place until August 2017, when the school was ordered to pay $55,000 in damages and attorney's fees.[15] Additionally, the school agreed to adopt a new Freedom of Expression policy, "[making] it clear that any individual or group can engage in non-commercial expressive activities, including speeches, demonstrations, vigils, and the distribution of informational materials, in common areas on the campus during periods that the College facilities are open to the general public."[15]

During the 2010s, YAL faced several controversies. In 2016, an internal post advising chapters not to host Milo Yinnopoulos led to disputes within YAL and external criticism over the organization's position and association with Yinnopoulos.[18] In 2018, the Iowa State chapter invited far-right figure Nick Fuentes to speak.[19] After the invitation, the national YAL organization pulled the chapter's YAL affiliation, effectively canceling the event and closing the chapter.[20] Reporting also identified some YAL members who were members of the white-nationalist group Identity Evropa.[21][22]

In May 2019, YAL announced it would be moving its headquarters to Austin from Arlington, Virginia, saying that the group "doesn't belong" in Washington, D.C. due to its "toxic environment," and that it was a "rapidly growing organization" that needed more space in its headquarters.[23]

In 2021, sexual misconduct allegations resulted in the firing of YAL president Cliff Maloney, who was later acquitted and had related charges dismissed.[24] In May 2021, Lauren Daugherty became YAL's new executive director.[25] Former Maine State Senator Eric Brakey assumed the role of senior spokesperson, while Sean Themea became YAL's chief of staff.[26][27]

Operation Win at the Door

In 2018, YAL launched Operation Win at the Door.[28][29] Maloney claimed that the project's goal would be to "build the bench" by electing 250 state legislators by the end of 2022.[30]

In February 2020, YAL accused Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign of stealing its grassroots door-knocking strategy and "Operation Win at the Door" branding to engage with voters.[31] As of September 2022, YAL says it has knocked on millions of dollars across 40 states in support of pro-liberty candidates.[32][33]

Hazlitt Coalition

YAL's "Hazlitt Coalition," a network of libertarian state legislators around the country, oversaw more than 170 members from nearly 40 states in 2021. The coalition filed 25 bills defending people's rights against COVID-19 protocols.[34][35]

As of November 2022, there are more than 300 Hazlitt members in the coalition, many of them under the age of 40. The Hazlitt Coalition doubled in size between 2021 and 2022.[36] One of the coalition's policy priorities is COVID-19 vaccine choice, in addition to free speech and gun rights, among others.[37][38]

Organization

Leadership

Jeff Frazee is the founder and CEO of YAL.[39] Frazee first worked with Ron Paul as a congressional intern in 2005.[40]

As of 2026, Themea serves as Chief Operating Officer, while Aaron Droba is Chief Financial Officer.[41]

Events

YAL hosts an annual convention, "YALCON," with keynote speakers such as Ron Paul, Rand Paul, Tulsi Gabbard, Vivek Ramaswamy, Kat Timpf, and Jennifer Zeng.[42][43][44][45][46] The event attracts hundreds of students and elected officials.[47]

Structure

YAL funds two legally separate, but interrelated organizations: A political campaign committee and a grassroots organizing arm.[48]

Activities

During the COVID-19 pandemic, YAL pushed back against government mandates that "[infringe] on civil liberties."[49] The organization's Hazlitt Coalition, a network of 178 legislators from 37 states at the time, introduced dozens of bills opposing proof-of-vaccination requirements.[49] According to Themea, "The idea of having to carry around your health papers to go to the grocery store is something out of an Orwell novel."[49]

In May 2021, YAL helped organize a protest against the COVID-19 vaccine requirement at Rutgers University.[50] Organized by Rutgers junior and YAL state chair Sara Razi, the protest brought together hundreds of "medical freedom activists."[51][52] The Rutgers protest was covered by CNBC, Forbes, The Guardian, and other news outlets.[53][54][55] That same month, YAL and the ADF threatened legal action against Skidmore College after a YAL chapter was not approved on campus for political reasons.[56][57] Skidmore student Hannah Davis claimed to be the victim of a "cancel culture campaign", which led YAL and the ADF to accuse Skidmore of violating consumer protection law.[58][59]

In total, YAL fought COVID-19 vaccine and mask mandates on 23 college campuses, such as Rutgers, Virginia Tech University, and the University of Colorado Boulder.[60] YAL circulated petitions opposing COVID-related rules on different campuses, such as Virginia Tech.[60] According to YAL, the organization "is not anti-vaccine, but rather anti-vaccine mandate at taxpayer-funded academic institutions."[61] Several students affiliated with YAL have spoken to the mainstream media, arguing for vaccination as a "personal choice."[62][63]

YAL supports school choice and is an outspoken critic of gun-control legislation, such as "red flag" laws proposed by former President Joe Biden and other Democrats.[64][65] The organization also opposes "Critical race theory" education at public schools.[66] YAL is active on social media, often attacking Democratic Party officials.[67] The organization also publishes a quarterly magazine called "The American Revolution," and YAL spokespeople regularly appear on Fox News and other networks.[68][69]

As of March 2025, YAL has spent more than $250,000 in West Virginia to oppose vaccine mandates and the elected officials who support such mandates.[70]

In August 2025, YAL hosted Ron Paul's 90th birthday party, which drew about 1,000 attendees.[71]

Awards

In 2023, YAL won a Reed Award for "Best Political Event Production."[72] The organization won the same award in 2024 for its Revolution 2023 event.[73]

References

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