Turning Point USA Packs House in First Event Since Charlie Kirk’s Assassination

More than 2,000 students and supporters filled the Northrop Auditorium at the University of Minnesota for the first Turning Point USA event since the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk and the message was clear: his movement is stronger than ever.

The “This is the Turning Point” tour, newly renamed to reflect the moment of cultural urgency Kirk always spoke about, resumed just days after the 31-year-old conservative icon was gunned down on Sept. 10 during a campus appearance in Utah.

Michael Knowles, the host of the evening and a longtime conservative commentator, opened the event with a heartfelt tribute to Kirk:

“Charlie accomplished more in his 31 years than most people could accomplish in many lifetimes. His most public accomplishments were political. His most important were religious. He wanted to be remembered for his faith.”

The crowd responded with thunderous chants of “Charlie! Charlie!” a spontaneous display of the grassroots energy Kirk inspired across a generation of young Americans.

Long before his assassination, Kirk had become the face of conservative student organizing in the U.S., founding Turning Point USA at just 18 years old. And judging by the turnout including students waiting over 90 minutes before doors opened — his legacy is alive and well.

“Charlie was an inspiration for me to speak out and be confident in what I believe in,” said Keane Pfeifer, a high school senior taking classes at the university.
“It has shown that youth can make a difference… if we come together and work together.”

From campus censorship to the culture war battles playing out in classrooms, Charlie Kirk gave students the tools to fight back, speak up, and never apologize for loving their country and their God.

As expected, the radical Left couldn’t help but make an appearance. Around 50 protesters gathered nearby, holding signs like “Say No to Hate.” One protester told reporters, “Although we do not condone in any way the actions that led to his death, we also do not condone the things he said in life.”

That’s the Left in a nutshell they don’t condone violence, but they do condone silencing voices they hate. And make no mistake, they hated Charlie Kirk for being effective, fearless, and grounded in truth.

The tour’s second stop was a candlelight vigil at Colorado State University. The next stop is Wednesday night at Virginia Tech, where Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is expected to speak.

Originally called “The American Comeback Tour,” the name change reflects a deeper shift from campaign mode to cultural movement. It’s no longer just about politics. It’s about a spiritual and moral reckoning in America.

Charlie Kirk’s assassination wasn’t the end of his message. It was a spark.

And judging by the crowd in Minnesota, the flame is just beginning to burn.

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