adminWe lost a leader in 2025 when Charlie Kirk was gunned down while speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on September 10, leaving a wound in our movement that still hasn’t healed. He was a young, unapologetic patriot who made the case for limited government, faith, and the dignity of American institutions before a shocked audience that day. The cowardly assassination was an attack not just on one man but on the free exchange of ideas that binds a free people.
Law enforcement moved quickly, and authorities arrested a suspect who has since been charged in the killing; prosecutors have signaled they will seek the harshest penalties as the pursuit of justice continues. Our courts are now handling closed hearings, motions, and questions about transparency while the American people watch closely for accountability. Conservatives demand a system that punishes political violence swiftly and transparently so no one is tempted to silence disagreement with a bullet.
The outpouring of grief in the weeks that followed made one thing clear: Charlie’s ideas were not marginal; they inspired tens of thousands of Americans to show up, mourn, and recommit. His public memorial drew one of the largest crowds ever assembled for a private citizen in modern memory, a testament to how many lives he touched and how many young conservatives he energized. If the media wants to call him controversial, look at the turnout and tell hardworking Americans their convictions don’t matter.
Charlie didn’t arrive on the scene by accident — he built Turning Point USA from the ground up and turned it into the most consequential youth conservative organization of his generation. Whether you agreed with every argument he made or not, he changed the political landscape by daring to stand up on college campuses and tell the truth as he saw it. That kind of boldness is what the left fears most because it cannot survive a marketplace of ideas where faith and patriotism are respected.
We must also be blunt about the climate that makes this violence possible: a culture that rewards outrage, demonizes dissent, and too often excuses threats when they come from the right people. Conservatives have been painted as monsters in cable news soundbites and college seminars, and that steady drip of dehumanization lowers the bar for real-world harm. But blame does not erase responsibility; the killer stands alone for his crime and must face full punishment under the law.
Recent court proceedings have exposed the tension between media access and fair trials, with judges ordering certain closed hearing materials to be released to ensure the public can see what’s happening behind courtroom doors. The American people deserve both security and transparency — victims’ families, taxpayers, and concerned citizens must be allowed to follow the case without theatrical secrecy. We should welcome procedures that protect witnesses while also shedding light on the justice process.
Now is the moment for conservatives to honor Charlie in the way he lived: by organizing in hearts and on campuses, by teaching the next generation to love country and God, and by refusing to trade freedom of speech for safety from offense. That means better event security, clearer condemnation of violence from all quarters, and a relentless defense of free expression. If we let intimidation and silence win, the brave young leaders who follow Charlie will never have the chance to fight for America’s future.
