The Assassination of Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk
In tumultuous times, there are people whose very being seems to anchor everything. They’re the last people you think will vanish from our lives. I left lunch yesterday and was contentedly walking up to the bank to get cash as some friends walked by saying “Did you hear Charlie Kirk is dead? He was shot.”
I felt the sidewalk move beneath me. I thought Charlie would be around way past my time, becoming a wise senior who shaped policies for the better. And now … After asking them what happened I said this is like the night I returned home from dinner and a movie to my neighbors saying, “did you hear Princess Diana is dead?” It seems impossible that people like Charlie Kirk or Princess Diana ever die, let alone in such horrible ways. But they were too vibrant to ever completely vanish. And Charlie Kirk will always be with us.
Let me tell you about my birthday last year
July 13th, 2024.
At our table of ten people. We ate and talked and even got up to dance…
My mother was just walked home… after we ate.
Suddenly all our phones were sending out notifications.
Then Mom called to inform us of what was being reported on the news.
One of our guests was a priest from Uganda.
Everyone went to their phones to see what the heck was happening.
We all read our notifications…
Trump had just been shot.
The priest from Uganda announced, “He (TRUMP) just won the election!”
This past week I watched Charlie Kirk’s question-and-answer event (also known as a debate) at another college (I believe Riverside, California) and a person asked him questions regarding illegal immigrants coming to America to be safe from attempts of murder… wouldn’t you be afraid?
Charlie’s Answer
“Yes, I understand that as I receive death threats daily…. My wife is afraid…”
God Rest Your Soul Charlie. Please keep up the fight from Heaven.
Amazing this happened on the eve of September 11th!
My “Did You Know?...” Column
I have been contacted by many that read my column and they say they pray for my safety. “Aren’t you afraid they will come after you, etc., etc.? I reply if something happens to me, go after the people involved in what I wrote about; that will be who did it!
A Prayer for Charlie and America on our 250th Year…
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the courage to stand for truth and righteousness. Bless Charlie Kirk, his family, and all who join them in defending Your values and our nation’s freedoms. Grant us Your protection as we boldly speak and act in Your name. Guide us with Your wisdom to honor You and inspire others. In Jesus’ name. AMEN
If you haven’t listened to Charlie Kirk, please go to Turning Point USA Home - TPUSA : TPUSA (tpusa.com)
“The American way of life means you speak your mind without retribution….” Charlie Kirk
Bonnie Donovan
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Message From Governor Spencer J. Cox of Utah
“If anyone within the sound of my voice is celebrating, even a little bit, I would ask you to look in the mirror, and try to find a better angel in there somewhere.”
Turning the Tables
Hell isn’t deep or hot enough for liberal woke thinking to be buried.
The assassination of Charlie Kirk is the final straw. The tables have turned. It will be you who will be shut down. You who can longer preach hate. You who have been wrong on everything will suffer the wrath.
If you hold any kind of position of influence from Senator, Congressman, Governor, Mayor, judge, attorney general, school board, college professor, a schoolteacher and most importantly our liberal, biased, Trump-hating media, you all shared in raising the knife that killed the young Ukrainian woman. It’s your blood dripping across the floor as the killer – who should have been locked away like so many others – was free to murder because of liberal, progressive, idiocy.
The right, conservatives, Republicans, whatever label you want to use, don’t march in the streets. We don’t burn down cities. We don’t call people Nazis. We don’t shoot presidents. And we don’t murder those with whom we disagree and then cheer it on. Those people belong in a special kind of hell.
You gave it your best shot to destroy America. Now sit down and shut up.
Henry Schulte
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He Led With His Faith
Charlie Kirk was a blazing light in a world that feels darker without him. Growing up, Rush Limbaugh was the voice of conservatism; my best friend’s dad would always have him in playing the background. His passing left a void in my heart. Andrew Breitbart’s untimely death hit hard too. But Charlie’s assassination cuts deeper than anything I’ve felt before. I met him several times and worked with Turning Point during COVID and the 2022 elections. Charlie wasn’t just a voice on a microphone or a face on a screen. He was a force. Charlie poured his soul into America’s youth and churches, igniting a passion for truth and free speech in young hearts. At just 31, he had already changed the world, fully aware of the risks he was taking but never backing down.
His pregnant wife, Erika, and two young children are left with the memories of his love and the weight of his legacy. My heart aches for them. It aches too for the countless young people who saw Charlie as a beacon, the one who truly understood their lives. He knew the dangers of his path but kept pushing, kept speaking, because he believed silencing hard conversations would doom the republic to a violent end. He led with his Faith and was a role model for young and old. His death is not just a loss. It’s a call to carry on his fight, to speak boldly, and to honor the man so many of us were proud to call a friend
Justin Shores
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He Lived For Life
My friend Charlie Kirk was murdered today by a coward. His life will be remembered for many wonderful things. He built it all with the power of the spoken word. He never used violence but was threatened every day with violence by those who couldn’t contend with logic and truth and now they have done to my friend what evil always does; it takes away life.
Charlie did not die however but instead he has begun to truly live. His life was secured eternally by His Savior Jesus Christ. This truth allowed Charlie to face every threat with courage because he didn’t fear death. All evil knows is death and they derive power from death. Charlie lived for life and will be remembered for this. My heart is broken for his family; His wife Erika and his two precious children. Evil has not prevailed, and it will not win.”
Paster Rob McCoy
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At Honor Bar in Montecito this evening, I was astounded to overhear three Montecito imbeciles depict today’s tragic news as a positive development.
They were trying to provoke a reaction.
They deserved one. A violent reaction. But that would have meant reducing myself to their level of depravity.
This area, unfortunately, is chock-a-block with evil libtards. I see ’em, every day. They mostly make me laugh.
But not today.
Not sure I can hold back next time.
Robert Eringer
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Descending into Madness
We don’t yet know who assassinated Charlie Kirk. I assume that it was someone who saw Kirk as a threat because of his courage and effectiveness in communicating the American conservative tradition to young people.
Many people on the left in America have convinced themselves that the only reason unappealing candidates such as Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris could lose to Donald Trump was that Trump is some kind of supervillain aided and abetted by our enemies.
They close their eyes to the possibility that the radical policies and outcomes of the last administration–open borders, DEI, transgenderism, inflation, green energy mandates–are profoundly unpopular with many Americans.
Then they convince themselves that democracy itself is under attack when their unappealing candidates and unpopular ideas don’t triumph at the ballot box.
Democratic choice is not guaranteed always to yield the best results. But it is superior to the rule of kings or dictators—or of assassins.
Everyone needs to take a deep breath and realize that as Americans we are in this great, historic journey together. If you lose an election, go out and convince the voters your way is better. And don’t believe for a moment that politics is the most important thing in life.
It isn’t.
Our family, our friends, our churches, our town, our nation, our planet–all these matter more than our political disagreements, which we shall always have with us, as long as we have our freedom as Americans.
God bless Charlie Kirk and his grieving family and friends, and God bless America.
Dale Francisco
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We Are All Now Charlie Kirk
When our own local media showcases this level of hate speech from former state senator Hannah-Beth Jackson at the Sept Labor Day Prop 50 rally, it means we are all now Charlie Kirk.
Charlie was never this shrill in his voice of opposition. He believed in discussion. Taken down when he was at his very best and leading by example. Speaking up in public and open to all, in face-to-face discourse. God rest his soul.
Noozhawk (9/25): “When you think about the things that are happening to California today at the hands of this demented, deranged, idiotic, moronic person in the White House, we need to take action,” (Hannah-Beth) Jackson said during Monday’s downtown rally. “And Proposition 50 is how we’re going to do that.”
J.L.
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The Good They Die Young
Charlie Kirk was one of our greatest young Americans. If you haven’t seen videos of his speeches, debates, and appearances, please take the time during the next few days to watch him in action. He doesn’t just say he believes in democracy; he practices it with every word he speaks.
Over the next weeks, a lot of ugliness will be spewed on social media. People will say Charlie brought this on himself. That he had it coming. That violence is the only way we can stop fascists like Charlie. If you can, please pray for the souls of these people. They’ve been taken over by demonic forces. Try to forgive them. Because they know not what they do.
Charlie’s words will live on. And future generations will be able to study his videos and writing. And they will be drawn to the light by Charlie. Because a bullet can’t silence someone that good.
Polly Frost
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I Hope and Pray 1000 Charlies Spring Up
Charlie was a martyr for his faith in America and his faith in God. The inability of his opponents to win the argument, in the face of his calm demeanor, humor and insight, drove one of them to kill him. I weep for him, his lovely family, and for our nation. I hope and pray that 1000 Charlies spring up from this tragic moment. God help us and God bless his family and God bless America
Dr. Paul Aijian
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He Paid the Ultimate Price
On March 1, 2023, Charlie Kirk electrified Campbell Hall at UCSB, captivating 2,000 of us with his sharp intellect and charisma. He faced hostile, often ill-informed students with honesty and respect, upholding the noble tradition of free speech and open debate–a cornerstone long abandoned by universities. The room pulsed with energy, and eyes were opened. Yet, predictably, the Santa Barbara Independent smeared him, falsely accusing him of “anti-LGBTQ, xenophobic, and anti-Semitic rhetoric”, willfully ignoring his call for truth, dialogue, and love.
Tragically, on September 10, 2025, a shot rang out at Utah Valley University, ending this remarkable young man’s life. A vile barrage of foul-mouthed detractors surged across social media, posthumously smearing him once more. Talk of a new civil war and rumors of political retribution began to trend.
My advice: Ignore the haters. Behold the man. A devout Christian, Charlie Kirk understood that young people yearn for liberation from the suffocating yoke of ideological conformity and crave a life of faith and meaning. He showed the way and paid the ultimate price with his life. Now, we must follow.
James Fenkner
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His Martyrdom Must Be a Turning Point
Tragedy struck our great nation today, and I write to you with a heavy heart. Charlie Kirk, a great friend and patriot, was assassinated at what was to be the first stop of Turning Point USA’s 14-city American Comeback Tour.
I urge you to pray for Charlie’s family. Pray for our country. And stand strong.
I will have more to say about this in the days ahead, but for now, I want to share the statement we released externally earlier today.
“Today, our country experienced a great loss. My friend Charlie Kirk was a devoted husband, exceptional father, and one of America’s brightest young leaders. He would talk to anyone. He loved America and her people. And he never stopped believing that our best days were ahead of us.
“In this moment of great pain and suffering, we can take some solace in knowing that Charlie was a Christian. We will pray for his family and that God grants eternal rest to his soul.
“Our country must be redeemed. We are on the brink of losing our soul as a nation.
“It is providential that the organization that Charlie founded and so bravely led was named Turning Point. His martyrdom must be a turning point for our country.”
The Heritage Foundation recognizes Kirk’s immense contributions to the conservative movement and our country.
Kevin D. Roberts, Ph.D.
President, Heritage Foundation
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Today’s event that was to feature Ben Shapiro and hosted by the Young America’s Foundation at the Lobero Theater in Santa Barbara has been canceled.
Dear reader, SB Current will be holding a Celebration of Charlie’s Life and his dedication to America. To be announced!
Today is the anniversary of September 11th… Please don’t forget about all those lives lost.
Community Calendar:
Got a Santa Barbara event for our community calendar? Fenkner@sbcurrent.com
Thank you to everyone who wrote a piece for today. In particular, thank you Bonnie Donovan - who asked for, compiled and edited the above pieces. This tribute to Charlie Kirk that Bonnie organized will be a tribute to him forever.
I know there are many more of you readers who are also heartbroken. Speaking for myself, I would like to hear from you in these comments. Charlie Kirk believed in and practiced the power of community speaking. Let him live on. Do not let this tragedy silence you.
Today, more than ever, I appreciate the necessity for Santa Barbara Current.