Charlie Kirk anniversary memorial draws protests at campus where he was killed

A planned memorial marking the anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s assassination is facing organized student protests at Utah Valley University (UVU) as Turning Point USA (TPUSA) prepares to return to the campus where its founder was fatally shot Sept. 10, 2025. 

TPUSA is scheduled to hold its “Freedom Built to Last Memorial” Sept. 10 at the campus’ UCCU Center, a short walk from the courtyard where Kirk was killed while speaking to a large crowd during a TPUSA campus event. The event is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. and feature conservative radio host Glenn Beck, Christian apologist Frank Turek, and TPUSA officials.

The group said in an August press release that the event would “honor Charlie as a faith-filled husband, father, and defender of free speech with a memorial that serves as a deliberate act of remembrance and a call for students and supporters to continue his life’s work.”

Several student groups, however, are opposing the memorial and have organized a protest beginning at 6:15 p.m., according to Newsweek. 

UVU’s chapter of Students for a Democratic Society, joined by three other university groups, accused university administrators of effectively endorsing Kirk and TPUSA by permitting the memorial on campus. 

“The UVU administration has closed campus that day, and has endorsed this event, which is an endorsement of the views of Turning Point and Charlie Kirk,” the groups said in announcing the protest on Instagram. “We will not stand for this, and we invite anyone who can attend to join us in solidarity to protest TPUSA, UVU Admin, and the Utah County Commissioners.”

They added that “deescalation training” would be held Sept. 8 and 9.

UVU campus leaders announced in August that campus operations would be closed Sept. 10 to allow for “time and space for reflection, service, and connection,” according to local outlet KSL.

University officials have rejected the protesters’ contention that allowing TPUSA to rent the venue constitutes an endorsement. UVU President Jon Anderson told The Salt Lake Tribune that the university must remain “apolitical” as an institution. 

“Any entity could’ve used that space, and they chose to have that day. And we allowed them to do that,” he added. 

Anderson stressed that UVU is not sponsoring the memorial. TPUSA rented the UCCU Center, an 8,500-seat arena that is partially owned by Utah County and available for private events when otherwise not in use. University officials reviewed the event because of its size and potential for controversy and are providing security, according to the Tribune.

The Students for a Democratic Society chapter has also circulated an open letter demanding that the university revoke permission for the event. The Tribune reported Sept. 8 that more than 600 people had signed the letter. 

The letter argued that permitting the memorial conflicts with the university’s stated goal of fostering “care and consideration” as students continue processing Kirk’s killing, according to Newsweek. The student group described TPUSA as “openly racist and antagonistic” and argued that permitting the organization to hold the event undermines the university’s stated commitment to students who object to Kirk’s views. 

“We call for Utah Valley University to stand with the students against hatred and divisiveness. This is our campus, this is your campus,” the letter stated, according to Newsweek. “In order for UVU to be ‘a place for you,’ we need to come together as a community and protect those who are marginalized by what Charlie Kirk perpetuated, and from what TPUSA continues to perpetuate.”

The memorial will operate under heightened security measures. According to the UCCU Center’s website, tickets are required for entry, all attendees and bags are subject to search, and metal detectors will be in use. The venue has advised attendees to arrive early to clear security.

In its August release, TPUSA invited Americans “from every corner of the country” to mark the anniversary and “share the moment on social media with a simple message: Charlie’s seat continues to be filled by a new generation of faith-filled believers.”