First Anniversary of Charlie Kirk Assassination Today:
Turning Point USA Founder Honored Tonight At Rally “Freedom Built To Last”
By Mike Hernandez
OREM, UTAH–Turning Point USA Founder and conservative icon Charlie Kirk will be honored tonight at a Utah Valley University rally “Freedom Built To Last” that starts at 5:30 p.m. PST.
The rally speakers will include conservative commentator Glenn Beck, founder of Blaze Media and Torch; and Christian apologist Frank Turek, president of Cross Ministries Examined; as well as TPUSA Chief Field Officer Andrew Sypher and Caleb Chillcut, Utah representative for TPUSA’s college department.
A livestream of tonight’s Charlie Kirk Memorial will be available on YouTube, X, Facebook, and Rumble as well as on Breitbart News’ website.
Kirk, a husband and father of two, was fatally shot on Sept.10, 2025, at the age of 31, while dialoguing with a student about gun violence at an event at Utah Valley University attended by 3,000 people.
The attack, which Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox described as a targeted political assassination, resulted in a manhunt that continued into the following day. By Sept. 12, authorities announced that Tyler Robinson, who was 22 at the time, had turned himself into police. Etchings on the bullet casings of the rifle allegedly used by Robinson had a variety of messages, including one that read “Hey fascist! Catch!.
The preliminary hearing for Robinson–who has been held without bail–took place over five days in July 2026 and featured testimony about the rooftop position, DNA, a note, and video footage of Kirk’s assassination. On Sept. 1, Judge Tony Graf ruled the assassin suspect can stand trial for aggravated murder and six other charges. Robinson could face the death penalty if convicted. Robinson returns to court on Oct. 23 when a trial date is expected to be set.
(Editor’s Note: See CaliRed News four Sept. 2025 stories on Charlie Kirk:
Part IA: Sept 16 By Mike Hernandez
Part IB: Sept 18 By Mike Hernandez
Part II: Sept. 19 By Mike Hernandez
Part III: Sept. 22 By Mike Hernandez
Following Kirk’s assassination” teachers, medical professionals, and elected officials posted online celebrations upon his death. The TPUSA founder had spent years exposing left-wing extremism at all levels of America’s education system.
(Editor’s Note: See CaliRed News coverage of Hope McMath, a Duval County Public School teacher’s celebratory posts on social media in Florida and her lawsuit against Moms for Liberty, represented by Horato Mihet of Liberty Counsel for reporting these posts: https://calirednews.com/teacher-celebrates-charlie-kirks-murder-online/.)
Kirk, a defender of free speech–the First Amendment–had founded TPUSA at only 18 years of age in 2012, to galvanize and mobilize youth of this country not just for political parties or politicians but for three core ideas:
- America is the greatest country in the history of the world.
- The (U.S.) Constitution is the greatest political document ever written.
- Free Enterprise assures a way to move people out of poverty and create prosperity for all.
During the 2025-26 academic year, TPUSA reported 3,500 Club America high school clubs, a 180 percent increase from the previous year, and 1,500 college chapters, up 64 percent. Over a million students are involved with the Christian organization based in Phoenix, Arizona. Attendance at TPUSA Leadership Summit surpassed 2,500, double the 2024 summit. More than two-thirds of attendees said they became involved with TPUSA after Kirk’s death. More than 12,000 churches and pastors have joined its TPUSA Faith network.
(Editor’s Note: See Esther Wickham’s Sept. 10 Yahoo News story at:
Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow, became CEO and chair of Turning Point US, following the assassination.
(Editor’s Note: Read CaliRed News coverage of Erika Kirk’s reflection on her grief that was published Monday in the New York Times:
See links to media coverage on the one-year anniversary of Charlie’s assassination:
- Gateway Pundit By Jim Hoft: “One Year Ago Today: The Senseless Assassination of Charlie Kirk by a Wicked Deranged Leftist –We Miss You, Charlie!”
- Western Journal By Randy DeSoto: “Before One of Charlie Kirk’s Final Speeches, He Was Warned Not to Talk About Christianity – That Was All the Motivation He Needed”
- Western Journal By Samuel Short: “Charlie Kirk’s Work Is Not Finished: It Is Up to Each of Us to Carry the Torch He Lit”
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(Editor’s Note: CaliRedNews.com is an online news platform focused on Making California Red by the 2028 elections through reaching Gen Z (ages 13-28), Hispanics, and Christians with biblical traditional values. CaliRed News reports on political, church, and education news. Free subscriptions are available at https://substack.com/@calirednews or CaliRedNews.com.
Mike Hernandez, is co-founder of the Citizens Journal–Ventura County’s online news service. He is a former Southern California daily newspaper journalist and religion and news editor, writer of “CaliRed News” on Substack.com and “Prayer Over News Daily” and other columns. Mr. Hernandez mentors citizen journalists and is author of “Citizen Journalism: How to Report, Write, and Publish Local News Like a Pro—Finding Your Voice, Reporting the Truth, and Building a News Source for Your Community” and can be contacted atMikeHernandezMedia.com dedicated to advancing truth, service, and hope through Mission News Service. He is also founder/publisher/editor of https://calirednews.com/.)