I received countless texts and calls from a lot of my friends and family right after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot at Utah Valley University. I did not want to believe it.
That moment hit hard. As part of campus leadership for his organization, Turning Point USA, at the University of Utah between 2017 and 2019, I represented them at events across the state and country. These opportunities provided not only a strong network of peers — many of whom remain close friends today — but also the foundation for my career in public policy and journalism, as well as fighting for conservative values.
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My friends and I faced backlash for being Christians and conservatives at the University of Utah — which is arguably more liberal and prone to political violence than UVU — but Kirk’s murder shows how dangerous political polarization and violence have become in America.
His death is not only a loss to those who knew him, but also a reminder of the challenges facing anyone who dares to speak boldly in today’s political climate. I am grateful to have known him and see the direct impact of his work all over the country.
I even played a role in bringing Kirk to UVU back in 2019. No hint of violence at all — just people debating and having conversations in the hallways of the campus. Sure, people yelled at him, but during his speaking event, there was a group of peaceful protestors outside. They did not even speak; they were just silent.
Little did we know that, six years later, he would lose his life on that same campus.
Back then, disagreements stayed in the realm of debate and protest — loud at times, but never deadly. Today, we’re living in a moment where political differences can escalate into violence, and that should alarm every American, no matter their views.
During my time with TPUSA, I worked to advance campus free speech protections in the Utah State Legislature with former Utah House Rep. Kim Coleman, to ensure that future students could speak their minds without fear of silencing or retaliation. I also fought back against unfair campus policies restricting free speech.
Those battles reflected the very mission Charlie Kirk championed — empowering young people to stand boldly for their beliefs and proving that free expression should never be silenced. It was not just about passing legislation or changing policies. Those lessons still stay with me today, especially as we face the heartbreak of losing Kirk to senseless violence.
At the same time, I served as student reporter for the conservative outlet Campus Reform, exposing attacks on conservatives at the University of Utah. TPUSA and like-minded groups gave me the backing I needed to keep doing these stories.
Believe it or not, reporting the truth got me in trouble on occasion with the Student Conduct Office at the University of Utah. Without free speech and freedom of the press, I would never have been able to expose the bias and hostility many students faced for their beliefs. Kirk helped me realize that as a young reporter.
Kirk’s death should jolt America into realizing that when we allow political disagreements to harden into hatred, we all lose. If we do not restore a culture of debate over destruction, more lives will be cut short, and the freedoms he fought for will continue to erode.
I am also thinking about his wife, Erika, and their two children. Their loss is immeasurable, and no words can capture the pain of losing a husband and father in such a tragic way. I don’t know what would happen if my son lost his dad or me to political violence.
No child should have to grow up without a parent because of someone else’s hatred. Behind every act of political violence are children, spouses, and families left to carry a burden they never asked for.
Kirk’s death must serve as more than just a moment of mourning. It must be a wake-up call for our country. This is not just an attack on Kirk; it is an attack on us. It is an attack on free speech, on the ability to disagree without fear, and on the values that hold our nation together.
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When bullets replace debate, the very foundation of free expression — the cornerstone of our nation — begins to crumble.
Now is not the time to run away and hide. It is time to stand firm, to defend what is right, and to honor the legacy Kirk left behind. We are at a turning point in our country.
Frances Floresca is a policy analyst and commentator.