On Sept. 10 at approximately 12 p.m., Turning Point USA co-founder and conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot at Utah Valley University during a campus event, which is sparking conversations about political violence.
“We are all devastated by the assassination of Charlie Kirk,” said Jack Medler, chairman of College Republicans at Virginia Tech, and a junior majoring in financial planning and wealth management. “Our hearts go out to his wife and children, who will never be able to see him again. We hope that they will be able to find peace again and know they have friends, family, the nation and the world supporting them.”
Kirk created Turning Point USA at the age of 18 and designed his organization to spread conservative views across left-leaning colleges and universities. During the American Comeback Tour, he invited college students and local attendees to debate him on social issues.
The campus event at Utah Valley consisted of Kirk’s “Prove me Wrong” debate. He can be seen sitting at a table facing a large crowd.
“I think his passing comes at a time when we are seeing a real rise in political violence across the country,” said Dawit Sheckler, president of Young Democrats at Virginia Tech, and a junior majoring in political science with a legal focus. “It forces all of us to think about how we keep people safe and how we bring down the temperature in our debates. If people start feeling like speaking out comes with real danger, we lose something beautiful about what our country stands for. We have to be able to disagree without seeing each other as enemies because that is what our highest ideals demand.”
Podcasts and social media posts on Kirk’s platforms encompass his political stances on issues such as climate change, gun control, faith and family values. In the 2024 election, Kirk played a vital role in receiving votes for the Republican Party and assisted President Donald Trump with his presidential reelection in November 2024.
“I think that his assassination will have a long-lasting impact in American politics,” Medler said. “He was one of the leading conservative and MAGA voices among younger generations, and his killer tried to send a message that free speech will not be tolerated. I believe that his message will fail and will encourage more people to follow in Charlie’s footsteps of open debate and free speech.”
The suspect in the Charlie Kirk assassination is a 22-year-old male resident from Utah, Tyler Robinson. A family friend of Robinson notified the Washington County Sheriff’s office, implying that Robinson had committed the crime.
“Virginia Tech is a big place with a lot of different perspectives, but I know many students respected him and were looking forward to his visit,” Sheckler said. “This is going to be a very tough time for them, and they deserve the same compassion and space to grieve as anyone else.”
