OREM, Utah — Turning Point USA gathered today at Utah Valley University for a "Freedom Built to Last" memorial, marking one year since founder Charlie Kirk was fatally shot on the campus during a conservative youth organization event.
Kirk, 31, was speaking to thousands of students on Sept. 10, 2025, when a single rifle round struck him in the neck from a rooftop more than 400 feet away. Authorities described the attack as targeted.
Tyler Robinson, then 22, surrendered the day after the shooting. Now 23, Robinson faces charges of aggravated murder and related counts. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. Judge Tony Graf ruled Sept. 1, 2026, that there was probable cause to send the case to trial after a lengthy preliminary hearing. Robinson has pleaded not guilty to all seven charges. The next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 23, 2026.
Turning Point USA continues operations under the leadership of Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk's widow, who was unanimously appointed CEO and board chair in September 2025. The organization reports significant growth: approximately 1,500 college chapters—a 64 percent increase—nearly 3,500 high-school clubs, more than 1,200 staff members, and involvement with over a million students.
Erika Kirk said her work aims to fulfill Charlie Kirk's original vision with an increased emphasis on faith. The organization maintains its campus tours and its annual AmericaFest event. Its political arm is actively targeting primary and midterm races in 2026, with strategic focus on the 2028 general election.
Student groups, including SDS, protested the memorial event and the campus closure, arguing the university's actions amounted to an endorsement of the conservative youth organization.
Supporters attribute Turning Point USA's continued resilience to Erika Kirk's leadership and the establishment of new chapters. Critics point to staff turnover and question whether the organization can sustain its momentum without Charlie Kirk's personal appeal. Some individuals have broken away from the group.
Brent Hamachek, a friend of Charlie Kirk and author of "The Intellect of Charlie Kirk," described Kirk's method of engaging protestors: "He would dismantle the leader of it, not with a weapon, and not with words, and not even with declaratives, but with interrogatives. He practiced the Socratic method, and he did it very well."
Glenn Beck was among speakers scheduled to honor Kirk at the memorial. The tributes also included remarks at the Dallas GOP convention and church invitations.
