America mourns the loss of Charlie Kirk

At the end of the day, we all bleed the same shade of red, and this earth is the only home we share. Violence will never bring peace, and unfortunately, tomorrow is never promised. There are countries all over the world where you can be killed for your beliefs – America was never supposed to be one of them. Political activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated by gunman at Utah Valley University, Sept. 10.

The Assassination

It was a sunny day in Orem, Utah, when Kirk stepped out onto campus to kick off his American Comeback Tour, ready to debate with young college minds. After only minutes of debate, at 12:23 p.m. MT, the sound of one gunshot silenced the campus at UVU and ultimately silenced the United States. Kirk had been shot in the neck, specifically the carotid artery area. 

Spectators screamed in shock and fear, throwing themselves on the ground. Kirk’s security instantly rushed to his side, desperate to try to save his life. The team did not wait for an ambulance; instead, they took matters into their own hands by transporting him in a motor vehicle to the local hospital as the crowd fled the area. Kirk was pronounced dead at 2:40 p.m. MT by President Donald Trump.

The manhunt for Kirk’s killer began immediately, with Federal Bureau of Investigation agents arriving on the scene only 16 minutes after the shot rang out. The FBI later released video footage and pictures of the suspect, asking the public and media for their help. 

In a press conference, Utah Governor Spencer Cox gave a spine-chilling warning to Kirk’s killer on live national television, Sept. 10.

“The investigation is ongoing, but I want to make it crystal clear right now to whoever did this, we will find you, we will try you and we will hold you accountable to the furthest extent of the law,” Cox said. “And I just want to remind people that we still have the death penalty here in the state of Utah.”

The case was handled with extreme care and urgency, with shooter Tyler Robinson being captured only 33 hours after the assassination.

Robinson was arraigned Sept. 16 on the accounts of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice (two counts), witness tampering (two counts) and commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child. He is now being held at the Utah County Jail without bail.

 The Turning Point of Turning Point

Turning Point USA, founded in 2012 by Charlie Kirk, is an organization committed to identifying, educating, training and organizing students to promote freedom. They aim to restore traditional American values like patriotism, respect for life, liberty, family and fiscal responsibility. TPUSA is geared towards college and high school students, with over 2,000 chapters and 800 faith groups.

Turning Point has been big; it is not a new thing. However, after Kirk’s brutal assassination, over 62,000 new chapter requests have been submitted. The organization is more than a small college campus group; it is a national movement of love for the United States.

Although Charlie Kirk’s assassination has gutted many Americans, it has also lit a fire within. Americans all over social media have dubbed this moment America’s Turning Point, saying that it has awoken a beast. However, the beast is not violent; it does not destroy – it builds. It builds courage, friendships rooted in values and movements grounded in the belief that America’s best days are yet to come. 

The beast is awake in classrooms where young people are hungry for truth. It is alive in families who pray together and commit to raising the next generation with strength, faith and purpose. It moves through communities that refuse to be silent, finding their voice in conversations, debate and critical thinking.

Charlie’s vision and dream for TPUSA does not stop here; if anything, it grows bigger, better and stronger than it has ever been before. Fresno Christian juniors Knox Beery and Jonas Maxey would love to start a TPUSA chapter on campus. 

“We believe that establishing a good foundation of faith and biblical values now is important so students can hold to those values throughout high school and adulthood,” Maxey said. “We are aiming for our first meeting to be at the beginning of October; we hope to have a great turnout.”

TPUSA continues their college campus tours, visiting places like Utah State on Sept. 30 and the University of California Berkeley. The new tour has been named “This is the Turning Point” and is set to feature speakers like Utah Governor Spencer Cox, Megyn Kelly, Tucker Carlson, Vivek Ramaswamy and Allie Beth Stuckey. 

Commemorating Charlie Kirk

Charlie Kirk was a man of deep faith, a God fearing man not afraid to share his beliefs. He wanted people to know his God. FC English and Bible teacher, Diego Alas, has followed Charlie Kirk since he was a junior in high school in 2017. He admires Kirk for his bravery in sharing his faith around the globe with anyone who would listen.

“I think Charlie made sure that his faith came first, not politics. Before he died, Charlie said he wanted to be remembered by his courage for his faith,” Alas said. “An early church father named Tertullian said that the blood of martyrs is the seed of the church. I believe with Charlie’s death, he serves as a Christian martyr, ultimately.”

Charlie’s death and his memorial service have been considered a national revival of faith and patriotism, even international. The memorial was an opportunity for people to come together to mourn and celebrate Kirk’s life. More than 63,000 attended the Arizona Cardinals Stadium, 20,000 in an overflow stadium and more than 100 million watched from their homes. The overflow stadium had to turn away thousands of people as well. 

The memorial service, Sept. 21, included worship for well-known leaders like Brandon Lake, Chris Tomlin and Cody Carnes. Speakers like Pastor Rob McCoy, President Donald J. Trump, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Erika Kirk shared their thoughts.

Kirk is survived by his faithful wife, Erika, and two young daughters. Erika and Charlie’s love story is one for the storybooks; they had a deep understanding and passion for each other and the Lord in their marriage. Now widowed, Erika deeply mourns the loss of her husband. Instead of letting the grief turn into hate, she has given her pain straight to the Lord. During Charlie Kirk’s memorial, she publicly forgave her husband’s assassin, a moment heard around the world.

Close friends of Charlie and witnesses to his death say that he died instantly and nothing could have been done. One moment, he was doing what he loved: debating young minds, challenging ideas and connecting with fellow Americans. With a blink of an eye, Charlie met his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He now watches over his family and America, in awe of the revival going on. 

Charlie Kirk is a figure who will never be forgotten, and his movement for a better American future remains strong. He would not want people to mourn forever over his death, but continue his movement and vision, which he was trying to complete.

If you have followed or have been impacted by the life and mission of Charlie Kirk, leave a comment below.

To learn more about Turning Point USA and its mission, visit their website.

To read more from The Feather, visit Pickleball craze gains momentum or Destination Homecoming: Day 4