Charlie Kirk supporters return to site of assassination 1 year later: ‘We are still standing’
One‑Year After the Shooting, Turning Point USA Marks a Reclaiming of Utah Valley Campus
In the late hours of Thursday, September 10, 2026, students and staff from Turning Point USA (TPUSA) gathered on the grounds of Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah, to commemorate the one‑year anniversary of the killing of TPUSA founder and media personality Charlie Kirk. The event, described by TPUSA spokesmen as a “deliberate act reclaiming that space in his honor and for his legacy,” took place on the same rooftop from which a gunshot rang on September 10, 2025.
The memorial, which included speeches, worship performances, and the unveiling of a statue that will remain on campus, was organized by the TPUSA chapter at UVU. The university itself did not host the ceremony but had permitted the group to use campus facilities, according to President Dr. Jon Anderson. UVU closed its campus for the day in recognition of the anniversary.
The Return to a Tragic Site
Andrew Kolvet, TPUSA’s spokesman and the executive producer of the “Charlie Kirk Show,” told Fox News that the gathering was intended to “reclaim” the space where the former conservative activist was killed. “We’re doing an event in Utah right now at UVU, a deliberate act reclaiming that space in his honor and for his legacy,” Kolvet said.
TPUSA’s chief field officer, Andrew Sypher, recalled standing about ten feet to the left of Kirk when the fatal shot was fired. “Steps from these doors is the ground where evil unfolded. We did not come back to rehearse the crime scene,” Sypher said to the assembled crowd. “This is where they tried to end him… we refuse to let the last word be a gunshot.”
The TPUSA chapter, whose president is Sage Lloyd, highlighted the emotional toll on students who had witnessed the shooting. “A year ago, our lives changed forever,” Lloyd told the audience. “We could have packed our bags. We could have stepped away. But we chose courage.”
A Text That Echoes in the Crowd
Sypher also shared a text message that Kirk sent to him that morning, just hours before the shooting. In the message, Kirk wrote, “Andrew, I’m not here to pick a fight. I am here to show them kindness.” According to Sypher, the message reflected Kirk’s assignment that day: “To talk with students who hate you. To share the truth, and to not become cruel doing it.”
The text underscored Kirk’s approach to campus outreach, a point that many TPUSA members used to frame the memorial’s purpose.
Memorial Features
The event began with a series of worship performances and video tributes that highlighted Kirk’s conservative activism. A statue, unveiled during the ceremony, will remain on campus as a permanent reminder of Kirk’s influence and the TPUSA movement’s commitment to free speech.
Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, marked the anniversary separately by posting a black‑and‑white photograph of their wedding, in which the couple is holding hands. The image bears the caption “.until Heaven,” a phrase that has become a quiet, personal tribute to the late activist.
University Support and the Campus Closure
While UVU did not organize the memorial, the university’s leadership expressed support for TPUSA’s use of campus space. President Dr. Jon Anderson told Fox News Digital that the school was willing to accommodate the group’s event. The campus was closed for the day, allowing students and faculty to observe the anniversary without disruptions.
“We’re still here, we’re still speaking, and we’re nowhere near done,” Lloyd concluded. “And that is how his voice lives on.” Her remarks underscored the chapter’s determination to continue advocating for conservative values and free speech on campus, despite the traumatic events of the previous year.
Context and Legacy
Charlie Kirk was shot on September 10, 2025, while standing on the rooftop of the UVU campus. The incident has been widely reported, with the suspect’s arrest and the details of the shooting documented by multiple news outlets. The TPUSA chapter at UVU has remained active throughout the past year, supporting students who were traumatized by the event.
The gathering on September 10, 2026, served as both a tribute and a statement of resilience. By returning to the site, TPUSA members signaled that the campus—and the broader conservative movement—would not be silenced by a single act of violence. The event reaffirmed the group’s commitment to free expression, as well as its willingness to confront opposition with “kindness,” as Kirk had urged in his last message.
In the days that follow, UVU students and faculty will likely reflect on the dual legacy of the campus: a place of education and debate that endured a violent event and, one year later, stands as a platform for remembrance and renewed advocacy.