Members of the conservative student organization Turning Point USA are reporting a significant increase in harassment and intimidation on university campuses across the country. The surge in hostile incidents follows the assassination of the group's founder, Charlie Kirk, during a campus debate earlier this year.
Student leaders describe a charged atmosphere where political disagreements have escalated into direct threats and property destruction, raising concerns about the state of free speech and student safety in higher education.
Key Takeaways
- Student members of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) report a rise in intimidation following the assassination of founder Charlie Kirk.
- Incidents include threatening notes depicting the murder and destruction of chapter materials at Northern Arizona University.
- Despite the harassment, the organization has seen tens of thousands of new sign-ups since Kirk's death.
- The alleged shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, is currently on trial for the fatal shooting at Utah Valley University.
A New Climate of Intimidation
On campuses where Turning Point USA chapters operate, student volunteers are navigating a climate they describe as increasingly hostile. Amy Rose Lombardo, a leader for the TPUSA chapter at Northern Arizona University, has been on the front lines of this new reality.
She detailed a series of disturbing events that began shortly after Kirk's death in September. "We have seen a few more dramatic protesting strategies," Lombardo stated, describing how interactions have shifted from debate to outright intimidation.
In one particularly chilling incident, a woman approached the chapter's table and left a handwritten note. The note contained a graphic drawing of a person with a microphone, bleeding from the neck, accompanied by the words, "only good Nazi is a dead Nazi." The imagery was a direct and unmistakable reference to the way Kirk was killed.
From Dialogue to Destruction
The harassment has not been limited to written threats. Lombardo recounted another event where an individual walked up to their display, made eye contact, and then violently swept all the materials off the table before walking away.
"She smiles at us and swipes the table and leaves," Lombardo explained, highlighting the brazen nature of the act.
These incidents reflect a broader pattern of escalation that is causing concern among conservative students who feel their right to express their political beliefs is under attack. The events have forced chapters to reconsider their security measures and how they engage in campus outreach.
The Assassination of Charlie Kirk
The current tensions follow the shocking death of Charlie Kirk, the 30-year-old founder of Turning Point USA. Kirk was fatally shot in the neck on September 15 while participating in an open debate at Utah Valley University. The suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was apprehended at the scene and is now on trial. The event sent shockwaves through the American political landscape, drawing condemnation from figures across the ideological spectrum. Former President Donald Trump posthumously awarded Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, calling him a "martyr for American freedom."
Organizational Growth Amidst Adversity
Despite the heightened intimidation, Turning Point USA has experienced an unexpected and massive surge in support. In the weeks following Kirk's death, the organization reported tens of thousands of new sign-ups from students across the nation.
This growth suggests that the events, while intended to intimidate, may have galvanized a segment of the student population. For many, joining the organization has become an act of defiance and a statement in support of free expression. TPUSA currently has a presence on nearly 800 university campuses in the United States.
Turning Point USA by the Numbers
- Nearly 800 university chapters across the U.S.
- Tens of thousands of new members signed up following Charlie Kirk's death.
- Founded in 2012 by a then 18-year-old Charlie Kirk.
Lombardo believes that backing down is not an option. She sees her involvement as essential to preserving open discourse in America. "Turning Point means truth and fighting for what you believe in," she said. Her resolve is a common sentiment among members who feel they are defending a core American principle.
"If we lose all hope, and we just give up on everything, then there's no way that we'd be able to have a future in America," she added.
A Call for Forgiveness and Dialogue
In the face of hostility, some members are choosing a path of compassion over confrontation. Lombardo said she prays for those who harass her and her colleagues, attributing their actions to misinformation.
"I hope they find their way out of the hatred that they let run their lives," she stated. "Because, at the end of the day, even though I disagree with those people, and they may disagree with me, I believe they are just extremely misguided. And they have just been lied to."
This sentiment mirrors the message delivered by Charlie Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, at a public memorial service in Arizona. In a powerful address, she spoke directly about the man who took her husband's life.
"My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life," Erika Kirk told the crowd. In a stunning display of grace, she added, "I forgive him because it is what Christ did. The answer to hate is not hate."
This message of forgiveness and dialogue continues to be a central theme for the organization as it navigates its future without its founder. Members like Lombardo emphasize the need for civil disagreement, where differing political views do not lead to hatred and violence. As the trial of Tyler Robinson proceeds, the challenge for student groups like TPUSA is to continue their activism while ensuring the safety and security of their members on increasingly polarized campuses.
