Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk was an honest debate beacon for young conservatives on campus. His death is a horrifying loss that Republicans feel for years to come.
Conservative activist, husband and father Charlie Kirk were fatally shot on September 10th. He encouraged free discussions with those who were killed at Utah Valley University in Orem at one of his popular campus events and wanted to ask him questions.
I lament another example of terrible political violence, highlighting the structure of our country. A man is killed to fight for what he thought was right, and he leaves behind a wife and two young children. It should sadden us all.
America is a better place where people can freely exchange ideas without fear of being killed or persecuted. Charlie understood this ideal and fought for it. If his death leads to anything, it should reinforce that feeling for all of us.
Young conservatives will miss Charlie Kirk
Charlie is one of the most influential figures in right-wing politics for my generation. At just 31 years old, he built Turning Point USA, a large network of conservative activists. Through that effort, he registered thousands of young voters and had a significant impact on the form of campus conservatism.
Despite the differences in policy and approach to many issues, I have always admired Charlie for his commitment to honest discussion. There are a few people who have the courage to come up with the massive crowds of hostile grass and discuss political ideas. He gave young conservatives like me a role model for someone who is not afraid to speak his mind, despite allegations and threats being cast in his path. He met the threat of violence on a daily basis and continued what he did, knowing there was always a chance someone could act against him.
Young conservatives will feel this loss for years to come
Without Charlie there will be a huge gap between the younger conservatives. Charlie is one of the voices that sparked my interest in politics when I was a young conservative on campus, and I know I’m far from the only one. He has always encouraged young conservatives to be sanctified and loyal to themselves, but we still have to.
We cannot allow this murder to discourage others from defending our beliefs. Being conservative on campus is already extremely difficult, and the looming threat of violence only adds to its stigma. I hope that young conservatives will be more encouraging and less passive from now on.
Americans should be sad today, not only for Charlie and his family, but also for what this means for the future. I don’t want to live in a place where this violence is a common occurrence. Young conservatives must show that violence is not an effective way to silence us. Young conservatives on campus are in response to this, with the unfortunate responsibility of becoming bigger, not quieter. There are not many young leaders like Charlie.
Dace Potas is an opinion columnist for USA Today and is a graduate of DePaul University with a degree in political science.
