We were all left shaken by the assassination of Charlie Kirk on Wednesday afternoon. To many of us, Charlie was more than a national figure on the news. He was a role model, a source of inspiration and a living example of what it means to stand for one’s beliefs with respect and conviction.
Charlie’s path was one that students in particular could identify with. Early in his life, he began speaking about the necessity of civic engagement and liberty, among other values at our nation’s core. With the establishment of Turning Point USA, he gave many students the power to develop a voice and take part in politics. It was not just his passion that made him stand out but also his willingness to face even his critics with the respect that they deserved. In a time when politics all too often seems like nothing but opposition, that mattered. It reminded us all that you could be firm in what you believe without demeaning other individuals who see the world differently.
Charlie valued his faith and his family above all else. His speeches emphasized the Judeo-Christian values of western civilization. Those who knew him often spoke about his devotion to his wife, Erika, and their two children. For all his influence in politics, Charlie’s real foundation came from the home. Losing him is painful not only because of the voice we’ve lost in the public sphere, but also because a husband, father and son was taken too soon. Our thoughts are with Erika, her family and the broader Kirk family as they struggle to cope with this unthinkable loss.
As we get more information about the assassination, we hope that justice is served quickly. Political violence has no place in our society. What makes this loss even more difficult to bear is witnessing some celebrate his death simply because they disagreed with him. That is not only wrong — it is inhumane. We cannot build a better country if disagreement leads to hatred or opposition leads to violence. Charlie understood this. He believed that democracy survives through ideals and conversation, not through intimidation or violence.
This act of violence will not silence us. We will keep on speaking out for conservative values in Charlie’s memory. Political violence aims to intimidate people into silence, but we are not backing down. If anything, it should make us bolder. The freedoms that Charlie died fighting for, especially freedom of speech, only exist if people continue to use them.
But this is bigger than conservatism. Political violence threatens everyone, regardless of which side of the aisle you’re on. This time it was Charlie Kirk. Tomorrow it could be someone else. Anyone who’s concerned with civil society, with discourse, with the sanctity of human life, should be able to join us in affirming that violence is never the answer.
Charlie’s legacy is a challenge to us all. To conservatives, the challenge is to carry on his work, stand up with conviction and not be silent. To others who may disagree with him, it is to stand in defense of the principle that every voice deserves to be heard without fear. If violence determines who has the right to be heard, no one is safe.
In the weeks ahead, we will look for ways to honor Charlie’s memory and the values he lived by. These weeks will provide opportunities not only to reflect on his life, but to remind ourselves what it means to live in a democracy, where dissent is part of the process, not an excuse to further polarize us. Charlie’s message to young people was always the same: You can be a difference-maker by simply speaking out. That is a message that we plan to carry out here on campus.
Charlie embodied the idea that courage is contagious. Now it’s our turn to live that mission by speaking out, building more vibrant communities and by choosing respect and freedom, not hate and violence.
To honor Charlie Kirk, we recommit ourselves to our values, our faith, our friends and our country. America is worth fighting for, not with weapons, but with ideas. We mourn his passing, but we will not let his light go out. Instead, we will keep it burning, brighter than ever before.
