Finding inspiration in the legacy of Charlie Kirk

Our nation lost a true hero on Sept. 10, 2025 with the tragic murder of Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and the great communicator of our generation. His death — a gruesome public assassination on a Utah college campus — was a stark reminder of the deep division and animosity plaguing our country, but there is a glint of hope in the wake of this senseless violence. Now, young men and women of the Right are fired up to fight back.

I am 26 years old and volunteer time with various conservative causes in our state as a proud, patriotic American. But without the influence of Charlie Kirk, I very well might have ended up like many others of my generation — possessed by the empty slogans and false promises of the radical Left. I was first exposed to Turning Point USA in high school, as were many of my peers. Charlie Kirk appeared on the Facebook and Instagram feeds of millions of teenagers, offering content that both fascinated and educated. In many cases, he was a young person’s first introduction to a well-informed conservative worldview. Charlie’s mission was simple: create respectful, open, and honest dialogue between those of opposing political viewpoints such that minds could be changed, ideas tested, and a better understanding of the other side achieved, as suits a free country.

When I left South Carolina to enroll at Harvard University in 2017, I was staunchly conservative, and despite the fears of my family and friends, I returned to South Carolina even more confident in my conservative views. Why did this Southern white male remain steadfast in his right-wing opinions after an extended stay in the People’s Republic of Cambridge? Because I engaged openly and honestly with my left-wing peers, just as Charlie courageously demonstrated. From pro-life demonstrations to election night watch parties with the Harvard Republican Club, I was able to test my own ideas and values in the face of overwhelming criticism. Yet, with this recent assassination of the very exemplar of free speech, hopes for rational public discourse seem all but delusional.

Disheartening does not even begin to describe the loss that many of my generation felt at witnessing our 31-year-old role model for courageous conservatism shot to death, leaving behind his wife and two children. In the days following the murder, fear and grief rippled through innumerable circles of young conservatives. And make no mistake: we saw ourselves in Charlie’s place. He was targeted because he was great — the wildly popular leader of an enormous organization of young patriots. If Charlie could be killed, so too could your politically-active brother, son, or grandson.

What comes next for so many heartbroken devotees of Charlie Kirk and his mission? After speaking personally to hundreds of young conservatives across the country (many now serving at various levels in government), the resounding answer from them is Action. They are furious, motivated, and clear-eyed as to their political direction in the coming years. They are more enthusiastic than ever to take their country back. In the words of President Trump, “We have to be vicious, just like they are.”

Regardless of the details of the shooter, the mainstream media and leftist campus organizations nationwide showed their hand in the wake of the murder. In the MSNBC coverage immediately following the shooting, guest Matthew Dowd commented that Charlie was “constantly pushing hate speech…which then lead to hateful actions,” before concluding, “You can’t stop with these awful thoughts you have, and then saying these awful words, and then not expect awful actions to take place.”

Additionally, students at my alma mater posted on public forums that Charlie “is not without fault — he cultivated extremism” in his advocacy of the Second Amendment, defense of Israel, and opposition to transgender extremism. A teacher in Greenville County was even fired for posting online that America “became greater” in the wake of the assassination. Reasonable debate is not possible with those justifying murder of a good, Christian man like Charlie. If you sit down to play a game of chess and your opponent punches you in the face, you are not going to prevail by getting better at chess.

No surprise, then, that Gen Z conservatives have now determined that beneath the petty moralizing, the snarky deflections, and the outright falsehoods propagated by many left-wing pundits and activists lies simple hate. Indeed, in the cases of Charlie Kirk, Iryna Zarutska, President Trump, and many others, this sinister hate evolved into bloodthirstiness and celebration of murder. Thus, the widespread assumption of young people on the Right: “If you want Charlie Kirk dead for his politics, I can only assume you want me dead, as well.” The masks, and the gloves, are off.

In a political climate devoid of understanding and good faith from the other side, young conservatives are increasingly aware that dialogue has failed. It is time to win, to defend ourselves, and to throw the full force of the law behind prosecuting radicals. Yes, private discussions with friends and family still have value (even if Thanksgiving turns into a cold war), but the public arena is in a hot war. Wars demand not only diplomacy but also action, and we demand swift, severe action from our government to avenge this horrific murder. As you grieve Charlie Kirk’s death, take heart in his newfound glory in heaven, and take inspiration from the fact that the youth are now alive and awakened to the challenges of today — a true turning point for our nation.

Rest in peace, Charlie Kirk, martyr of our generation.