The assassination of Charlie Kirk is more than the tragic loss of a leader. It is a defining moment for America. His murder during a public event at Utah Valley University was not random, nor was it senseless. It was a targeted political killing carried out at a forum he created to do what he did best: sit down with those who disagreed with him, engage in civil conversation, and test ideas through rigorous debate. The very act of seeking dialogue ended with his voice being permanently silenced.
Charlie’s mission was simple yet profound: to defend free speech, to champion open debate, and to keep alive the promise of a free society. He believed every young person, regardless of background, should have the strength and opportunity to speak their mind. His leadership, his determination, and his example made him a patriot whose influence will shape generations to come.
But this moment must alarm every American, no matter where they stand politically. Universities, once bastions of free thought, have too often become hostile breeding grounds for intolerance. That climate has now culminated in the silencing of one of our nation’s most important voices. Charlie’s death is not only a tragedy for conservatives, it is a tragedy for the American experiment itself.
In the last year alone, we have seen a growing pattern of politically motivated violence from the attempt on President Trump’s life to the murder of Charlie Kirk. The cost of escalating rhetoric and unchecked hostility is no longer theoretical. It is real. It is deadly. And it demands action. America needs real leadership, leadership that can restore civility, elevate debate, and remind us that our differences must be settled through dialogue, not destruction.
Charlie’s legacy is deeply personal to me. As a young campus activist at Chico State, I faced professors and peers who sought to intimidate and silence me. Turning Point USA was a trusted resource that brought lifelong friends and support when I needed it most. More importantly, Charlie himself elevated my work and helped me find a voice I might otherwise have lost. He did this not only for me, but for thousands of young activists across the country.
We fought to end gerrymandering, so why should Latinos accept it under Prop. 50?
The national kidney shortage is the best kind of problem — because it’s solvable
As Newsom focuses on redistricting, state unemployment rate grows to nation’s worst
Charlie Kirk’s assassination calls us to continue the conversation
It’s time for Los Angeles to get the ‘Abundance’ memo
Yes, Charlie Kirk held strong political beliefs. He never wavered from the principle that all of God’s children are created equal, and that every American deserves the freedom to pursue happiness and a full life. That conviction fueled his tireless activism, and it is what inspired an entire generation of young people to step up, speak out, and get involved.
Charlie Kirk was the greatest activist our country has seen in a generation. His absence leaves a void that cannot be filled but his mission remains. And that is where the responsibility now falls to us.
Take time to mourn. Take time to grieve. But then remember what Charlie would want. He would want you back on your campus starting the next conversation. He would want you out on the pavement knocking doors. Most of all, he would want you to carry yourself forward and keep fighting for the country he loved so much.
His fight is now ours.
Michael Curry is vice chair of the Republican Party of Riverside County