Supporters of Charlie Kirk returned to Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, one year after the conservative activist was assassinated on campus. Turning Point USA held a memorial featuring worship, video tributes and the unveiling of a statue. Students who witnessed the shooting described grief and fear but said they chose to remain active. The university closed its campus for the anniversary, while allowing the organization to use campus space for the event.
The gathering was presented as an effort to reclaim the location in Kirk’s honor and emphasize the continuation of his student movement. Speakers urged attendees to respond to the killing with courage, faith and continued engagement rather than withdrawal.
| 1) | Supporters return to the Utah Valley University campus |
| 2) | Student witnesses describe a decision to choose courage |
| 3) | A final message focuses on kindness and faith |
| 4) | Memorial program includes worship, tributes and a statue |
| 5) | University closure and the movement’s continuing legacy |
Supporters return to the Utah Valley University campus
Turning Point USA supporters gathered Thursday night at Utah Valley University, the Orem campus where Kirk was fatally shot on Sept. 10, 2025. The event was organized by the student organization rather than by the university, and it was intended to bring participants back to the site on the first anniversary of the killing.
Andrew Sypher, the organization’s chief field officer, said he had been standing about 10 feet to Kirk’s left when the fatal shot was fired. He told attendees that the return was not intended to recreate the crime scene, but to assert that the location would be associated with Kirk’s legacy as well as the violence that ended his life.
“We did not come back to rehearse the crime scene.”
Student witnesses describe a decision to choose courage
Sage Lloyd, president of the Utah Valley University Turning Point USA chapter, spoke for students who were on campus when Kirk was killed. She said the anniversary brought back fear, grief, confusion and heartbreak, while also underscoring the decision by chapter members to remain involved.
Lloyd said students could have left the organization or stepped away from public activity after witnessing the assassination. Instead, she said, the chapter continued to operate and its members remained willing to speak publicly. Her remarks framed the memorial as an opportunity to acknowledge trauma while rejecting fear as the defining outcome.
“We can let it define us through fear, or we can let it strengthen us through courage.”
A final message focuses on kindness and faith
During the memorial, Sypher also shared what he described as a text message Kirk sent him on the morning of the assassination. According to Sypher, Kirk wrote that he was not attending the event to pick a fight, but to show kindness. The message was presented as an indication of how Kirk intended to engage with students who disagreed with him.
Sypher said that message shaped the organization’s interpretation of the day and its response afterward. He told the audience that the goal was to speak with opponents, share what members believed to be true and avoid becoming cruel in the process. He also said Kirk’s death had strengthened, rather than ended, the group’s religious commitment.
“Charlie’s assassination did not put our faith to death. It woke it up.”
Memorial program includes worship, tributes and a statue
The service included worship performances and video tributes honoring Kirk, a conservative activist and founder associated with Turning Point USA. Organizers also unveiled a new statue that is intended to remain on the Utah Valley University campus. Floral tributes, a prayer vigil sign and a large wooden cross were visible near the event area.
The program was designed to combine remembrance with a public statement about the future of Kirk’s student movement. By holding the event at the same campus location, organizers connected the anniversary to both the loss of Kirk and the organization’s intention to continue its work among students.
University closure and the movement’s continuing legacy
Utah Valley University closed its campus for the one-year anniversary. University President Jon Anderson had previously said the school supported Turning Point USA’s use of campus space for the memorial, although the university did not organize the service itself.
Erika Kirk, Kirk’s widow, marked the anniversary separately by posting a black-and-white wedding photograph of the couple holding hands. The image carried the words “…until Heaven.” Lloyd concluded the campus gathering by saying the student chapter remained active and that Kirk’s voice would continue through its members.
| No. | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Turning Point USA held a one-year memorial at the Utah Valley University site where Kirk was killed. |
| 2 | Student witnesses said they chose to continue their campus work despite the trauma. |
| 3 | The event featured worship, video tributes and a statue unveiling. |
| 4 | The university closed for the anniversary but supported the group’s use of campus space. |
Summary
The anniversary memorial brought Kirk’s supporters and student chapter members back to the Utah Valley University site of the 2025 assassination. Speakers acknowledged the lasting grief of witnesses while emphasizing faith, kindness and continued political participation. The statue, tributes and speeches gave the gathering both a commemorative purpose and a declaration that the movement would continue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was the memorial held?
It was held at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, where Charlie Kirk was fatally shot on Sept. 10, 2025.
Who organized the event?
Turning Point USA organized the memorial. The university did not organize it, but supported the organization’s use of campus space.
What happened during the service?
The service included worship performances, video tributes, speeches from student and organizational leaders, and the unveiling of a statue intended to remain on campus.
How did student leaders describe their response?
Student chapter president Sage Lloyd said members chose to remain active and respond to the experience with courage rather than withdraw from campus life.
