Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative activist and commentator, was shot and killed at Utah Valley University, prompting public tributes and reflections from allies and onetime ideological rivals.

In an opinion column published Sept. 10 in the New York Post, commentator Dave Rubin described Kirk as “my friend and political sparring partner” and wrote that Kirk had fought for the "freedom to debate." Rubin said he first met Kirk in 2017 at an event hosted by the Horowitz Freedom Center in Palm Beach and that what began as tense, early conversations evolved into a decade of respectful, often vigorous public debate and personal friendship.

Rubin wrote that he and Kirk frequently appeared at college events together, engaging students and testing opposing views in public forums. He said those appearances were regularly targeted by disruptions, including bomb threats, pulled fire alarms, verbal abuse, thrown objects and attempts to block entry to venues. Rubin said Kirk responded to such hostility by standing firm and continuing to engage audiences.

"If you disagree with us you get to speak first during the Question and Answer segment," Rubin recalled as a rule Kirk established for their events, a practice Rubin said he adopted for his own public appearances. Rubin described Kirk as "a principled man" who devoted himself to rallying young voters, spending time in swing counties and debating on college campuses.

Rubin framed Kirk’s work as part of a broader effort to "bring more freedom and prosperity" and urged others to carry forward the mission Kirk pursued. He wrote that Kirk leaves behind a wife, children and a movement that will feel his absence. Rubin closed his column by citing George Orwell: "The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it," and saying he looked forward to debating any remaining differences when they next met.

News organizations and political figures have issued statements following the killing, and the episode has reignited debate about safety at public appearances and the intensity of contemporary political discourse on college campuses. Rubin’s account emphasized both the hostility Kirk and his associates encountered at such events and Kirk’s willingness to engage directly with opponents.

Kirk rose to national prominence in conservative circles for his work mobilizing young voters and organizing campus activism. Rubin’s column provides a personal perspective on Kirk’s public profile, describing a relationship that moved from initial skepticism to regular collaboration across a span of years.

Authorities have provided limited public details about the circumstances of the shooting. Media coverage and commentary have continued in the days after the killing, as colleagues and commentators describe Kirk’s impact on debates about politics, culture and campus life.

Rubin concluded his column by urging reflection on the kind of society the United States should be: one in which differences are debated with "respect, conviction and love," or one that "drifts further from truth and replaces it with violence," he wrote. He called on readers to continue the work he said Kirk dedicated his life to promoting.

Further reporting is expected as officials release more information about the shooting and as public figures respond to the death of a prominent and polarizing voice in U.S. conservative politics.