Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and close ally of President Trump, who was shot and killed Wednesday at a Utah college event was scheduled to appear at the University of Minnesota on Sept. 22.
Kirk co-founded and was CEO of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, with an early focus on proselytizing on college campuses for low taxes and limited government. The political organization eventually grew to holding large rallies with thousands of attendees and featuring top conservative leaders, including Trump.
Student chapter Turning Point USA at the U scheduled Kirk and Michael Knowles, a conservative political commentator, to speak as part of Turning Point USA’s The American Comeback Tour. The event, scheduled on the Carlson Family Stage at Northrop Auditorium, is described as “a high-energy evening featuring a candid conversation about conservative values, followed by a live Q&A.”
University officials did not respond Friday to requests to confirm whether the event is still going ahead, but Knowles pushed back on a social media user’s urging Thursday night that he cancel public appearances.
“I appreciate the concern, but I will not be canceling any public appearances,” Knowles tweeted on social media platform X.
An employee with Northrop Auditorium also did not confirm whether the event was still scheduled when called Friday, though it still appeared on the Northrop website that same day. The tour’s next scheduled event at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo., also still appears on the tour’s website.
Kirk previously appeared at the University of Minnesota in 2017, according to a social media post by the U’s Turning Point USA student chapter at that time. Requests for updates to the group on the Sept. 22 event were not answered.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has referred to Kirk’s killing at Utah Valley University as a political assassination carried out from a rooftop as Kirk spoke at a debate hosted by his nonprofit political organization. The suspected shooter has been identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson of Washington, Utah.
Robinson was arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily harm, and obstruction of justice charges, according to a court affidavit. A judge ordered that Robinson be held without bail. Formal charges are expected to be released early next week when Robinson is due to make an initial court appearance.
Kirk had been outspoken on politics and events in Minnesota on his social media.
He previously made disparaging remarks about George Floyd, who was murdered by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in 2020. Kirk also was condemned by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey in July when Kirk tweeted a video of mayoral candidate Omar Fateh and claimed “Muslims are commanded to take over the government in the land they live. The attempted Islamic takeover of America is made possible thanks to mass migration.”
Frey and Fateh, along with political leaders across the political spectrum have condemned the attack on Kirk. Utah Gov. Cox also made an impassioned plea on Friday for Americans to use Kirk’s death as a moment to turn away from political violence and division.
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