In brief
Turning Point USA's college tour returns to Utah for its first event since the assassination of its founder, Charlie Kirk. The event will feature notable conservative speakers and seek to continue Kirk's mission in promoting conservatism among young voters.
LOGAN, Utah (AP) — Turning Point USA’s college tour will return to Utah on Tuesday for its first event in the state since its founder, Charlie Kirk, was assassinated on a college campus earlier this month.
The stop, at Utah State University in Logan, is about two hours north of Utah Valley University, where Kirk was killed on September 10 by a gunman who fired a single shot through the crowd while Kirk was speaking.
The assassination of a top ally of President Donald Trump and a key figure in his Make America Great Again movement has galvanized conservatives, who have vowed to carry on Kirk’s mission of encouraging young voters to embrace conservatism and pushing American politics further right. Kirk has been labeled a “martyr” by many on the right, and Turning Point USA has seen significant interest nationwide, with tens of thousands of requests to establish new chapters in schools and on college campuses.
Tuesday’s event, scheduled before Kirk’s demise, will showcase how Turning Point is navigating its future without its dynamic leader, who was essential in attracting crowds and attention to its events.
The college tour is now being led by several prominent conservative figures, including Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, and Glenn Beck. This event will include conservative podcast host Alex Clark and a panel featuring Sen. Mike Lee, Rep. Andy Biggs, former Rep. Jason Chaffetz, and Gov. Spencer Cox.
Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, has committed to continuing the campus tour and preserving the legacy of the organization he founded. She now oversees Turning Point along with a dedicated team of her late husband’s colleagues and friends.
Erika Kirk has assured supporters that she will maintain the operation according to her husband’s vision, stating, 'We’re not going anywhere. We have the blueprints. We have our marching orders.'
The events thus far have served as tributes to Kirk, emphasizing prayer and interactive sessions he often led. At Virginia Tech last week, Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin urged attendees to uphold Kirk’s legacy, affirming, 'You will be the next Charlie.' This sentiment resonated with the audience, reinforcing the call to action among Kirk’s supporters.
