The assassination of Charlie Kirk marked a pivotal and life-changing moment for men, women and families who gathered to lament the charismatic conservative leaders at the Phoenix headquarters of the Turning Point movement, which he founded and grew into a national political force.
After Kirk’s death, the strict individuals and young families took off their flowers, shed tears and hugged them. The strangers called each other “brothers” and “sisters,” and asked to kneel and pray and pray, asking Kirk’s wife and her children to heal and comfort them.
They shared how Kirk’s atypical willingness to speak his heart gave them the confidence to stand proud of their faith and morality.
“We live in America. We have the first right to amend free speech. He was killed for that right, but he taught the rest of us that being strong is okay,” Pawnee Carter said.
Carter and others said Kirk’s death felt like a fork moment for conservatives. That is, he said that not following political leftist beliefs could be killed.
Kirk’s murder has been added to the growing list of cases of political violence in the United States, with two democratic Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses fatally shot and killed in June. In July 2024, an attempt was made to assassinate President Donald Trump on the campaign trail.
How Phoenix Mourners Reacted to Charlie Kirk’s Kirk’s Killer
In Phoenix, some mourners denounced the Democrats. Some people criticized the media.
“Your fault, you spread hatred!” shouted at the reporter’s line as a woman drove in the complex of a turning point building near the Arizona Grand Resort.
Mike Hood, who dropped the white roses the moment Kirk’s death was announced, pointed to malicious rhetoric and those willing to call each other “Nazis” and bravely.
“It’s coming to my head,” Hood said.
Jacob Kaufman, 24, brought flowers after cutting work, said “whether a right-wing activist or a left-wing activist, there is no place for political violence.”
Damon Sommer said it was a scary time to become conservative in America. He came to headquarters to pray against his wife’s wish, fearing that the place would become a target. However, he does not think that Kirk’s death will silence conservatives from speaking their minds. Rather, it would awaken them, he said, and “The baton will be handed over.”
Carter agreed.
“Set one foot in front of the other. You pray and bring that prayer into the street. You move forward with the American flag in your hand, put your gun by your side, and you carry it proudly and loudly,” Carter said. “Because we can’t be ashamed of who we are.”
Carter said she plans to buy another gun, and she suspected that other conservatives too.
She said she hoped Trump would bring National Guard to more cities, hoping that he could serve as a warning to violent actions.
Carter said to his daughter, “I hated them and Jesus. He didn’t begin to become a martian, but he was alone.”
Taylor Seely is the first revision reporting fellow at Republic of Arizona/azcentral.com. Is there any talk that the government is violating your initial right to revise? I’ll reach her tseely@arizonarepublic.com Or by phone at 480-476-6116.
Seely’s role is funded through collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism’s fundraising partners. Funders do not provide editor input.
