This Wednesday, September 10th, 2025, a 31-year-old father of two and a loving husband was
shot dead for utilizing his First Amendment rights.

Charlie Kirk was a successful right-wing activist, speaker, and author. He founded the
conservative youth movement Turning Point USA. He was one of the most prominent voices of
the MAGA movement and had a huge impact on the recent 2024 election. He was a staunch
defender of Israel and the Jewish people. He was a devoted Christian, husband, and father.

At the time of his death, Charlie Kirk was at Utah Valley University, at the first stop on his college
tour of this semester, called “American Comeback Tour.” He attended campus stages for
open-air events, where he welcomed debate from anyone. Charlie was always patient and kind,
even when students had opposing political views. His murderer didn’t afford him the same
respect and chose violence instead. His family, his wife, his three-year-old daughter, and his
older son were at the event when he was shot. He was rushed to the hospital, but he didn’t
make it. A life dedicated to discourse ended in silence.

Flags across the country flew half-staff to honor the loss of such an influential and
compassionate life. Many people across the world, regardless of their political viewpoints,
expressed their horror at the political assassination and offered words of condolences. The
Governor of Utah, Spencer Cox, was quick to remind everyone that they “still have the death
penalty here in Utah”.

A large part of Charlie Kirk’s ideology is rooted in the belief in the importance of open debate.
When speaking about his college events, Charlie Kirk once said, “We record all of it so we can
put it on the internet, so people can see these ideas collide. When people stop talking, that’s
when you get violence. That’s when civil war happens, because you start to think the other side
is so evil and they lose their humanity.” These were the values Charlie Kirk stood for. When
audiences booed speakers they didn’t agree with, he stepped in to ensure they were heard and
allowed everyone to share their opinions on his open mic. JD Vance commented on his
character, “When he was right–as he usually was–he was generous. With Charlie, the attitude
was never, ‘I told you so.’ But: ‘welcome….’ He exemplified a foundational virtue of our
Republic: the willingness to speak openly and debate ideas…” Reflecting on the tragic event,
Gavin Newsom, Governor of California, said, “I admired his passion and commitment to
debate… The best way to honor Charlie’s memory is to continue his work… Honest
disagreement makes us stronger; violence only drives us further apart.”

In a statement about the life of Charlie Kirk, Trump wrote, “The Great, and even Legendary,
Charlie Kirk… No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America
better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me”. He connected with
young people in a way few political figures could, energizing them around his message.
Binyamin Netanyahu mourned for Charlie Kirk, “[He] was murdered for speaking truth and
defending freedom. A lion-hearted friend of Israel [and] an incredible human being. Rest in
peace, Charlie Kirk.” In an emotional statement, Vice President JD Vance reflected on Kirk’s
personal legacy: “He had a profound faith… He was a great family man… Charlie was so proud
of Erika and the two kids. He was so happy to be a father. And he felt such gratitude for having
found a woman of God with whom he could build a family.”

Yesterday was a dark day for American democracy and free speech. Murdering a person for
their opinions, especially a man like Charlie Kirk, who stood for open discourse, is extremely
dangerous for the continuation of our republic. With him gone, it is all the more vital to take up
his mantle and ensure that ideas, not people, are what clash in the public square. Whether right
or left, conservative or liberal, we must safeguard the principle that disagreements are to be
settled through the free exchange of thought. Only then can our democracy remain strong and
our freedoms endure.

We all agree with JD Vance when he says, “You ran a good race, my friend. We’ve got it from here.”