Kirk will be remembered for his spirit, persuasive skills, and civility
What can I say about the giant of a young man, Charlie Kirk, that hasn’t been said in the hours since he was shot to death on Wednesday before hundreds of shocked, frightened students, having been speaking in the outdoor area of a Utah college campus for no more than 20 minutes?
Charlie Kirk was on his “American Comeback Tour” of college campuses and universities, this one the first of four that were planned. Kirk, 31, held strong, conservative principles and cofounded Turning Point USA at age 18 to engage and persuade college students to support conservative values and candidates. Turning Point has 850 college chapters today.
It was reverently broadcast that he was a loving husband, a father of two young children who was committed to his family and to conservative ideals. We know he also crisscrossed the country to build Turning Point, hosted a podcast and a radio show, wrote commentaries, and maintained a strong friendship with President Donald Trump, helping him win Arizona, according to the president.
In the aftermath of the horrendous event, authorities took no time in calling Kirk’s death a “political assassination.” But the question “why?” remains elusive and, at this writing, the suspect is on the run. Did Kirk’s conservatism or his Christianity arouse the ire of an assassin, or was it his alliance with Trump? Whatever the rationale we hear, it remains a terrible fate for so talented and intelligent an advocate for the fundamental principles that differentiate America from the rest of the world.
He was a champion of freedom, especially the freedom of ideas. Kirk was making great progress, changing minds and gathering millions of followers, I was told.
People and pundits alike recognize political and verbal violence is on the rise — cursing and street fighting, too. In this, Kirk remained above the fray, even with hot button issues like climate change and “transgenderism.” He preferred to challenge college students to publicly debate him, often about these politically divisive issues. These campus interactions mostly went well, remaining relatively civil. They will likely remain available on YouTube.
Everyone knows now of the greatness and niceness of Charlie Kirk, his spirit, persuasive skills, and civility. He will be remembered for organizing a conservative movement similar to one in the 1960s that gave a voice to conservatives, challenged left-leaning Republicans, and the radical movement on college campuses.
Turning Point USA and an associate, Young Americans for Freedom, are 55 years apart in their inceptions and in 2025 the two conservative organizations are singularly fighting to win over liberal minds on campus and elect conservative Republicans. This week, YAF, which began in 1960, offered condolences to the Kirk family and said it is planning a memorial vigil.
We can agree this was a nightmarish week and a terrible loss for America because of what such violence says about us. Free speech and the right to assemble peacefully are endangered when someone like Charlie Kirk was silenced by a single bullet.
The image I have of his last moments are of an enthusiastic, vibrant young man speaking to the crowd, wearing a t-shirt with the word “f r e e d o m” written across his chest.
Pat Wandling hosts Speak Your Piece weekdays at noon on WBCB 1490.
