The Federalist Society community joins in mourning the passing of Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a tireless advocate for free speech and civic engagement.
"Charlie was an exemplar of the principle of free speech which is central to American life. His career was dedicated to giving students the opportunity to experience the free exchange of ideas and determine for themselves which were best in an open forum. His work highlighted the critical nature of principled debate and civil discourse.
As Vice President of the Turning Point USA Chapter at Ave Maria University, I can personally attest to the inspiration he provided to countless students. Charlie served as a role model for students like myself to clearly and courageously defend our convictions. He demonstrated the ability to stand firm in one’s beliefs while respecting those of others. Charlie was also a devoted husband and father, whose love for his family reflected his character.
While his life may have been cut short, his legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of the countless students he inspired and the principles of free speech and open dialogue he furthered. May his memory always remind us of the vital nature of those principles."
— Julien Mourad, Vice President, Turning Point USA Chapter at Ave Maria University; Founder & President, Federalist Society Chapter at Ave Maria University
"As a young American who felt overwhelmed and voiceless in a world of wokeness, Charlie Kirk showed me that disagreement and debate should be invited, not avoided. His death feels surreal, as it likely does for other young Americans who have grown accustomed to seeing his debates on social media and on college campuses. Americans, Republican and Democrat alike, are faced with a grueling reality following Charlie Kirk’s assassination on September 10th. His death should not only be mourned for the sake of his family and for the sake of his followers, but it should be viewed as an insult to our very nation’s Constitution. Charlie Kirk’s death, whether his views were admired or hated, marks the end of a prominent voice that surely had more to say. He reignited passion and participation in young Americans fearful of the effects of cancel culture, and I am devastated that we have lost such an influential representative of young conservative voices. In just a few short years, Charlie Kirk made a lasting impact on our country, and it is a loss that we will not see his efforts realized following this tragedy. No matter your perception of Charlie Kirk, he succeeded in getting our nation talking. In a country as great as ours, it is dismaying that one of our own passed while exercising his freedom of speech.
His passing is a tragedy, but it is not the end of the movement he built. His courage and commitment to the fight for free and open debate lit a fire that cannot be extinguished. Young conservatives will continue to carry that torch as Charlie Kirk taught us, standing up boldly for open and free debate, protecting the freedoms our nation was founded upon, and ensuring that the principles Charlie lived and ultimately died representing remain alive for generations to come."
— Rory Smist, Assistant Director, Faculty Division, The Federalist Society
