Thousands of people gathered at Utah Valley University to celebrate the life and faith of conservative political commentator Charlie Kirk, according to a September 13 report. The memorial, titled "Freedom Built to Last, Honoring Charlie Kirk," marked one year since Kirk's assassination.
The Turning Point USA-sponsored event drew roughly 5,000 attendees, many of whom wore merchandise honoring Kirk. The memorial included speeches from figures such as Glenn Beck and Michael Knowles of The Daily Wire, as well as Sage Lloyd, the president of UVU’s Turning Point USA chapter. The proceedings featured a live Christian worship band and video tributes focusing on Kirk's religious beliefs and political drive.
During the event, Turning Point USA chief field officer Andrew Sypher presented awards to 15 student leaders in coordination with the state of Utah. Sypher stated the awards were meant to recognize the courage of students standing against opposition to ensure Kirk's legacy continues. A statue of Kirk was also unveiled during the ceremony, though a permanent location for the statue has not yet been decided. UVU has appointed a committee to determine how to approach a possible Kirk memorial and has opened an online form for public suggestions.
The memorial faced pushback from a segment of the UVU student body. In an open letter to university administration that received hundreds of signatures, students argued that hosting the event was not in line with an atmosphere of care and consideration. Conversely, Orem local Sanchez Kilter expressed a nuanced view, noting that while he disagreed with many of Kirk's political ideas, he believed no one deserves to die and expressed sympathy regarding the assassination.
Speaker Michael Knowles addressed the state of American politics, suggesting that the marketplace of ideas has become more dangerous following the assassination. He noted that while Kirk was a prominent political figure, his faith was his most important attribute. Glenn Beck concluded the service by encouraging attendees to focus on celebrating Kirk's life and to use hard times to forge strength.
The memorial concluded with music provided by a local bagpipe player as attendees departed the campus.
