On Wednesday afternoon, September 10, Turning Point USA founder and conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk was murdered while speaking with a crowd of thousands at Utah Valley University. As he engaged in dialogue, practicing the cut and thrust of debate for which Kirk has become a household name across the world, he was shot and later passed from his injuries. His killer is still on the loose.
At just 31 years old, he was a husband, a father to two young children, a devout Christian, a close friend to world leaders and statesmen alike, and the creator of one of America’s most successful youth movements. As President Trump said in an address:
“Charlie was a patriot who devoted his life to the cause of open debate and the country that he loved so much … He fought for liberty, Democracy, justice and the American people. He’s a martyr for truth and freedom, and there’s never been anyone who was so respected by youth.”
The president has ordered flags across the nation to be flown at half mast until Sunday as a mark of mourning and respect.
An Impact Beyond Measure
In 2012, when Kirk was just 18 years old, after dropping out of community college, he started Turning Point USA, an organization that sought to spread conservative ideas and values in educational institutions. In just 13 years, the group boasts over 3,500 chapters on college campuses and in high schools the length and breadth of the nation.
Charlie pioneered youth outreach by going to campuses and engaging in direct conversation and debate with thousands upon thousands of students (and more than a few professors). Offering a rare chance for respectful dialogue, he asked those who disagreed with him to “come to the front of the line” and make their case.
