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 has galvanized conservatives, who have vowed to continue Kirk's mission to inspire young voters to embrace conservatism and push American politics rightward. Kirk has been regarded as a “martyr” by many on the right, leading to a surge of interest in Turning Point USA, with numerous requests to establish new chapters in schools and colleges.
The upcoming event serves as a testament to how Turning Point is moving forward without its charismatic leader, who was instrumental in attracting attention to its campaigns.
Featuring powerful conservative voices such as Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, and Glenn Beck, the event will also showcase conservative podcast host Alex Clark and a panel including Sen. Mike Lee, Rep. Andy Biggs, former Rep. Jason Chaffetz, and Gov. Spencer Cox.
Erika Kirk, Charlie's widow, aims to continue her husband's legacy, overseeing Turning Point USA alongside his former aides. In recent remarks, she reassured supporters that their operations will maintain the trajectory Charlie laid out for them. We’re not going anywhere. We have the blueprints. We have our marching orders, she affirmed while indicating plans to keep producing their daily podcast, utilizing archival material from her late husband.
The tribute events held thus far have primarily focused on remembrance, featuring prayer and traditional question-and-answer formats that Kirk popularized. At a recent event, Virginia's Republican governor, Glenn Youngkin, urged attendees to embrace Kirk's legacy, insisting that everyone has the potential to be the next Charlie Kirk.
As the tour progresses, many conservatives express concern regarding the future of the MAGA movement without Kirk's unifying presence. Commentator Michael Knowles highlighted the risk of fragmentation within conservative factions without Kirk's leadership in bridging those divides.
Ultimately, the Turning Point USA tour serves not just as a platform for ongoing discourse among conservatives but as a rallying cry to push forward in the face of adversity, ensuring that Kirk's ideals continue to resonate.
