Christian free speech campaigner Charlie Kirk has been killed aged 31. The married father of two was shot dead while speaking to students at Utah Valley University in the US.
Aged 18 he co-founded Turning Point USA to advocate for conservative politics at university campuses, becoming recognised as a vigorous apologist and attracting thousands of followers with his open debating style.
A fierce advocate for free speech, he often expressed the need for people to be able to disagree well, once saying: “What we as a culture have to get back to is being able to have a reasonable disagreement where violence is not an option”.
Blending faith and politics
Kirk was particularly popular among young people, and is credited with equipping his millions of social media followers with facts, figures and robust arguments to clearly articulate their positions on contentious issues.
Many of his videos show him championing marriage, advocating for the sanctity of life, and upholding the reality of biological sex – views he held because of his grounding in Christianity.
The campaigner was rooted in his faith, and regularly spoke of why he believed in the Bible, why he trusted in Christ as his Lord and Saviour, and why God’s good design for the world is beneficial for all of humanity.
Just hours before the shooting his wife Erika also posted on social media, ‘Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.’
‘To glorify Christ’
Kirk recently set up Turning Point Faith, which exists “to serve the American church by resourcing Christians across the nation to boldly stand for truth, liberty, and The Kingdom”.
Its website continues: “We believe in the Gospel, and an outworking of the Gospel is for the Church to be salt and light in every aspect of life, including the public square.
“When the Church stands boldly for biblical truth and puts its faith into action, our nation will experience a God-breathed transformation as it turns towards Him. In everything we do, we aim to glorify Christ.”
Proclaiming the Gospel
A statement on the Turning Point USA website following his death also referenced Kirk’s desire to see God exalted: “above all, Charlie lived every day with an overflowing love of the Christ he knew he would one day get to see. When asked, Charlie said that above all, he wished to be remembered for his faith.
“Far more than any political victory, Charlie wanted to see a spiritual revival among America’s youth. He wanted a nation of happy, thriving families who loved God and each other.
“At his final public speech, just days before his murder, Charlie witnessed to Christ to an audience of non-believers. Even in his very last moments, Charlie was professing the Gospel. He ran his race well all the way to the end. Now he goes to his heavenly reward.”
World leaders unite
The murder has been roundly condemned by former US Presidents Clinton, Bush, Obama and Biden as well as President Donald Trump.
In a video message posted on Truth Social, the President said he was “filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination”.
Sir Keir Starmer also shared his condolences saying: “It is heartbreaking that a young family has been robbed of a father and a husband.”
“We must all be free to debate openly and freely without fear – there can be no justification for political violence.”
Pray for the family
Institute Director Ciarán Kelly said: “Charlie Kirk was willing to talk about his faith with others and equip young people to scrutinise, evaluate and ultimately speak out boldly against dangerous secular ideologies in the public square. Even those who opposed his politics recognised his enduring willingness to engage fairly, if robustly, with their ideas.
“But most importantly, we must remember that his wife Erika has lost her husband; his two young children have lost their father. Please uphold them in prayer, that as they grieve and question they may know the comfort of The Great Comforter.”
The suspected assassin, named as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, has been detained by the authorities.