Supporters of conservative activist Charlie Kirk returned to the campus of Utah Valley University (UVU) on Thursday to mark the one-year anniversary of his assassination. The event, organized by Turning Point USA (TPUSA), was described as a deliberate effort to honor Kirk's legacy and reclaim the space where the incident occurred.
Andrew Kolvet, a TPUSA spokesman, stated that the gathering was intended to commemorate Kirk and ensure his legacy lived on. Andrew Sypher, TPUSA's chief field officer, who was present at the time of the assassination, told attendees that they had returned not to dwell on the crime but to assert that the event would not have the final say.
Sage Lloyd, president of the UVU TPUSA chapter, addressed the crowd, recalling the fear and grief experienced by students who witnessed the assassination. She emphasized that despite the tragedy, the chapter remained, choosing courage over fear. Lloyd shared a text message allegedly sent by Kirk on the morning of his death, which read, "Andrew, I’m not here to pick a fight. I am here to show them kindness." Sypher added that Kirk's intent was to "talk with students who hate you. To share the truth, and to not become cruel doing it."
The memorial service included worship performances and video tributes to Kirk. A new statue was also unveiled on campus. Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, marked the anniversary with a personal message on social media.
Utah Valley University closed its campus for the day of the anniversary. While the university did not organize the memorial, President Dr. Jon Anderson expressed support for TPUSA's use of campus space for the event. Lloyd concluded her remarks by reaffirming the chapter's continued presence and commitment to speaking out, stating, "Our chapter is still here, we are still speaking, and we are nowhere near done."