By Staff Reporter |
Several days after the one-year anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, his memorial was once again vandalized.
Kirk was assassinated Sept. 10, 2025, while speaking at Utah Valley University. He was the founder and CEO of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a conservative advocacy organization. Kirk was 31 years old at the time of his death. He left behind Erika, his wife of four years, and their two young children.
A bronze statue depicting Kirk’s likeness and a sign featuring a picture of Kirk were vandalized with red paint.
The paint was drawn in the pattern of an “X” over the statue’s face, a frowning face was drawn over the statue’s torso, and paint was spattered over the statue’s neck and hat in a similar representation to the gunshot wound that Kirk sustained in the assassination.
Similarly, the paint was drawn in the pattern of an “X” over the face and neck area in Kirk’s picture on the sign. The quote on the sign — “May Charlie be received into the merciful arms of Jesus, our loving Savior” — had the word “Jesus” covered in red paint.
TPUSA advised in a public post that it had camera footage of the incident and that its personnel were working with law enforcement to identify those responsible for the vandalization.
“[V]andalism like this is not funny, it’s diabolical,” stated TPUSA. “The incident happened in the middle of the night because evil never sleeps. Beyond spray painting on the neck and face, they made the intentional decision to cross out the name of Jesus on a nearby sign.”
Erika responded that incidents like this latest vandalism have only strengthened her resolve to continue her husband’s work. Erika now serves as the CEO of TPUSA.
“They thought a bullet would silence my husband’s voice but it only made it louder. They think spray paint can obscure his legacy, but it will only spread it further. Every attempt to tear down what Charlie built makes us root deeper and work even harder,” said Erika. “And if you think crossing out the name of Jesus Christ will silence Christians, history has already proved you wrong. We know what it costs to stand firm for Christ and we will stand anyway. God will not be mocked. We’ll put His name right back where it belongs, clean up the mess, restore Charlie’s statue, and keep building. We will never give up and never surrender.”
Another one of Kirk’s memorials was vandalized last year by Mesa resident Ryder Corral, who was dressed similarly to Tyler James Robinson, Kirk’s accused assassin.
Robinson faces seven criminal charges in connection with Kirk’s assassination; prosecutors announced they are seeking the death penalty in his case.
Robinson’s defense attorneys have cost the state of Utah approximately $1.6 million so far, according to reporting from the Salt Lake Tribune.
A trial date has yet to be set in Robinson’s case. The next court date in his case is scheduled for Oct. 23, 2026, during which discussions of proposed trial dates are anticipated to occur.
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