By Mike Hernandez

OREM, UTAH–Charlie Kirk was honored by Turning Point student leaders, Glenn Beck and Frank Turek during a Sept. 10 packed “Freedom Built To Last” rally of thousands at Utah Valley University (UVU) where he was assassinated one year ago.

Sage Lloyd, president of Utah Valley University’s TPUSA chapter, opened the event and welcomed attendees to the campus saying “we are still here” and she recounted how they had “overcame fear and grief” to stand strong for Charlie Kirk and free speech and against violence and hate.

“Our beliefs painted a target on our backs but we cannot allow fear to define us. We have chosen courage. Charlie’s voice will never be gone–it  is still here. His voice lives.”

Lloyd then unveiled a statue of Charlie Kirk on stage, “This piece (sculpture) immortalizes Charlie’s mission to step forward and pick up the mic, not just for this generation but for generations to come.”

Lloyd’s opening remarks focused on Kirk’s impact on university students, “Charlie Kirk spent much of his life on college campuses, exercising his First Amendment right and encouraging all students to do the same. No matter their opinion, no matter their viewpoint, Charlie gave them the opportunity to have a voice.”

Besides Lloyd, leaders of Utah Valley University’s TPUSA chapter, were asked to come up onto stage to be recognized with a moment of silence.

Andrew Sypher, TPUSA’s Chief Field Officer, said: “Today marks one year. I was standing 10 feet to his left, when he was assassinated. We didn’t come back to rehearse a crime scene. We came back because Charlie Kirk represented the best of us: a husband, a father, a God fearing man who never stopped leading by example. He loved his country and the students standing in front of him.

“Today, we refuse to let the last word be a gun shot. He understood, knew what his calling was. Charlie was my brother. Brotherhood is loyalty. It is duty. It is a shared trials. Even on his last day, he started that day in prayer. Charlie’s assassination did not put our faith out. It woke us up.

“When that shot rang out that day, I immediately knew he was gone. Charlie’s legacy is inspiring millions by refusing to quit. Charlie loved young people that were standing for truth that were standing for Christ. We can live that way too. We must live and work for a better tomorrow. We are charged to take it from here–for freedom, for truth. My dear friend Charlie Kirk, thank you.”

Caleb Chillcut, Utah Representative for TPUSA. “Charlie came here to speak, debate, and evangelize. Charlie’s impact was impossible to miss. Charlie had a way of making

people believe they are capable of more.

“Charlie stood for giving people respect. If we dehumanize people on the other side, we have missed the point of standing here. I was not raised to take my rights for granted. I grew up in Australia, where these fundamental freedoms did not exist. This is why Charlie loved this country like he did. I thank everyone for being here to honor Charlie.”

Mikey Mccoy, Chief of Staff, “No words can fill the empty wound of those who love him. Charlie is home with Jesus. He always found a way to communicate at every opportunity and point people to Christ.

“He helped young people find hope. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 (we read), ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’”

“Liberty is doing what is right. Freedom requires responsibility to be kept every generation or it will slip away. Charlie did not operate in fear. Charlie lived John 15:13: ‘Greater love has no one than this than to lay down one’s life for his friends.’”

Michael Knowles, political commentator affiliated with the Daily Wire, since 2016 said:

“Charlie had friends around the country and around the world. He was the most effective political activist of this generation. 

“I need to let you know that I am angry. I am angry at injustice to Charlie, to his wife, Erika, to his children, to this political movement and the injustice to this country.

“Charlie wanted to be remembered for his faith. Today, more people are going back to church and Bible  sales are up by 37 percent.”

Frank Turek, president of Cross Ministries Examined, “Charlie wanted me to mentor him.. At 64 years of age, I learned a lot more from Charlies than he did from me.

“He is remembered for politics but he was about preaching the gospel. Politics affects our ability to preach the gospel.

“Charlie was about his family. He embraced marriage and the family being the foundation of any civilization. He wanted his generation to embrace government, family and the church. He was secure. He knew God.”

Glenn Beck, founder of Blaze Media and Torch, “Charlie’s mission is accomplished; It’s our check-up time. What have we accomplished this year? How is my soul? How is my mind? 

“Charlie loved God, loved the country, and loved you. He was martyred. He knew the God of the individual not the collective, the God who loved Abraham and Jacob.

“I leave you with a mission to tell the truth lovingly, to serve God and find joy.”

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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/.)