The 22-year-old student at Utah Valley University had watched Charlie Kirk’s videos for years and credits the conservative firebrand with being a catalyst in his own political involvement.
As the immediate shock of the attack calms, some at Utah Valley University said it has been replaced with a deep sense of resolve to continue what Kirk began.
The killing has thrown Utah Valley University into the centre of America’s political divide.
Young fans and critics debate Charlie Kirk’s political legacy Who is Charlie Kirk shooting suspect Tyler Robinson?
Nestled in a valley surrounded by towering mountains, Utah Valley is the biggest university in the state.
nine hours prior.
Christal Hayes of BBC News, reporting from Utah.
On a sign-up sheet, Scott Sperry wrote his name.
The 22-year-old Utah Valley University student attributes his own political involvement to Charlie Kirk, a conservative firebrand he had watched his videos for years.
Mr. Sperry decided it was time to give back by joining the Turning Point USA chapter, which Kirk co-founded in 2012 to promote conservatism on college campuses, just before his political hero was scheduled to speak on campus this Thursday afternoon.
Shortly after sitting in the front row to listen to Kirk talk, Mr. Sperry was shocked to see blood gushing from Kirk’s neck and a sniper bullet ring out. He claimed he still can’t get the pictures out of his head, but he believes the loss will only make the movement Kirk encouraged him to join stronger.
“Trying to silence a voice like this doesn’t make it go away; it just makes it louder,” the second-year student stated. “I think that’s what we need to do because there will be a million Charlie Kirks now. “..”.
According to some at Utah Valley University, the initial shock of the attack has subsided and been replaced by a strong determination to carry on what Kirk started.
Students from a range of political backgrounds, including those who strongly disagree with Kirk’s views, told the BBC that they have felt a personal obligation to support constructive discussions on college campuses.
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After confessing to his father, the suspected murderer was taken into custody.
In a tearful speech following the shooting, Charlie Kirk’s widow declares, “I will never let your legacy die.”.
Kirk, who co-founded Turning Point USA at the age of 18, has branches at over 850 colleges and has been credited with helping Donald Trump win the White House by energizing younger voters.
Frequently traveling to college campuses across the nation to discuss topics like immigration, gun control, gender, and race, Kirk had millions of followers on social media. The left frequently criticized him for his opinions and his combative demeanor, which drew demonstrators to his events on campus.
During a speech at San Francisco State University last spring, he was referred to as a “rage baiter” by one student, and others accused him of using actual students as “click-bait” because he frequently shared his heated arguments with liberals online, where they went viral.
The murder has thrust Utah Valley University into the middle of the political rift in the United States. People who disagreed with Kirk took to social media shortly after he was shot to point the finger at him because Kirk has publicly endorsed gun ownership. On the right, politicians and commentators claimed that the “radical left” was attacking conservatives.
Because of the attention, some students feel compelled to join the ideological debate.
“This marks our first political action to date. “We’re not political like this,” McKinley Shinkle, a first-year student, said as he and his cousin waved signs on campus that referred to Kirk as a hero and declared their lack of fear.
He went on to say, “This happening on our campus and then seeing people who are supporting the shooting – it just kind of radicalized us.” Despite this, he and his partner intend to stay involved in politics. “It has completely altered everything. “.”.
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The largest university in the state is Utah Valley, which is tucked away in a valley encircled by majestic mountains. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a granite temple that is 218 feet high and is situated atop a hill with a view of a clear blue lake. There are more Mormons in the state than anywhere else in the US, and religion is very important to this group, which is also a conservative stronghold.
Many people are perplexed as to why Kirk was singled out here. Second-year student Ben Forster observed that Kirk frequently paused in places that were more liberally oriented, where he could have been a more direct target.
He remarked, “This is now where his martyrdom was established,” as he considered his academy. “He was killed during a debate, which is, after all, what martyrdom is all about. “..”.
In spite of his disagreement with Kirk’s positions, Mr. Forster went to the event in Utah on Wednesday to witness the spectacle and listen to the differing opinions; he hopes that this will continue at his university and other places following the attack.
“I don’t care about what his opinions were,” he declared. “It is a good thing that he was using his right to speak and debate in a public setting. “..”.
There are indications of what transpired here everywhere you look close to campus.
Following his shooting death in front of thousands during one of his famous college campus debates, there were signs in apartment windows and on the roads praising Kirk as a hero, law enforcement barricading entrances, and improvised memorials with candles and flowers.
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The suspect was apprehended after a 33-hour manhunt.
After the incident, some students told the BBC that they have been supporting one another, and others are talking about what will happen next. It is obvious that some students on campus will have a political awakening as part of that future.
The words “freedom” and “you can’t kill the truth” were printed on defiant posters that a number of students hung in the windows of their apartments. Near campus, a campaign-style merchandise display is offering Trump flags and hats for sale. Drivers beeping their horns in support of Kirk or against him pass through the campus traffic circle entrance day and night.
