Remembering Charlie Kirk
I’ve never felt grief like this for someone I never met. Yet Charlie Kirk’s assassination on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, hit me hard. He was human - flawed, real, courageous, a husband and father striving to live the values he believed in. He stood for Christ, family, free speech, life, and doing what is right, even when it was difficult. He was a torch of light in a divided world, dedicated not just to preaching to the choir, but engaging with those who disagreed with him.
Charlie Kirk was gunned down at the first stop of his 15-event “American Comeback Tour,” which invited attendees to debate him. His death revealed the sharp divisions of the world he inhabited: on one side, people mourning a profound loss; on the other, those openly celebrating it. It underscored the battlefield on which he fought and just how distorted morality can be in a fractured society.
For those unfamiliar with him, Kirk was a prominent conservative activist and media personality in the United States. He co-founded Turning Point USA at 18 to promote conservative ideas on college campuses and spent years engaging students in civil discourse. By 31, he had millions of followers across social media, and his daily podcast often featured clips of him debating students on faith, family, climate change, and other cultural issues at his “Prove Me Wrong” tables.
Values and Vision
Kirk played a key role in introducing many young people to patriotic politics, showing that pride in one’s country could coexist with thoughtful engagement. He championed optimism, traditional virtues like marriage, personal responsibility, and faith. He sought to live these values and inspired others on that journey. In debates and discussions, he combined courage with respect, asking questions, listening, and responding thoughtfully.
In a time of cultural confusion, he helped bring clarity, unpacking complex belief systems and inspiring many to reflect on and strengthen their own convictions. Through his work, he activated a generation to think critically, engage confidently, and carry forward the principles he modeled.
Above all, he was a devoted husband and father who placed God first. His marriage to Erika was a living testament to biblical love in our modern age, a standard that many people I spoke to, especially those disillusioned by modern dating, admired and aspired to. Watching them together gave hope that such love exists; that faith, family, and commitment can still shine brightly. Their relationship also offered encouragement to women, showing that age differences, Erika being five years older, did not diminish love or partnership, even in a world where such norms are often unfairly judged. The love and respect his wife and children radiated toward him spoke volumes about the man he was and inspired others to pursue the same ideals in their own lives.
Global Influence
Charlie’s influence extended far beyond the United States. Young millennial conservative activists I spoke to from countries including South Africa, Germany, Poland, France, and the United Kingdom described him as a leader capable of preserving the enduring values of Western civilization. In smaller nations such as Georgia, which rely heavily on U.S. political and military support, and at a time when America stands at a critical crossroads, voices like his were seen as especially vital.
These conservatives emphasized that his intelligence, persuasiveness, and commitment served as a model for how to engage with others, even those who aggressively disagree. His passion and courage inspired them to become more politically active and to stand boldly for their convictions. Many expressed hope that his legacy endures, with his social media immortalizing his influence and continuing to inspire audiences worldwide - videos that reflect his steadfast commitment to defending liberty, free speech, and the principles that sustain a free society.
A Spiritual War in a Political World
Months before his assassination, in an interview, Jack Selby asked Charlie how he wanted to be remembered if he were to die. Kirk replied, “I want to be remembered for courage for my faith. The most important thing is my faith.”
Despite achieving remarkable success with Turning Point USA at a very young age - including building a vast network, employing hundreds, influencing culture in America, cultivating high-powered connections, and raising a beautiful family - Charlie did not lose perspective. He had started the organization from his parents’ garage, with no money, no connections, and no clear plan, and he remained grounded in the belief that his work was guided by the Lord’s providence.
Throughout his life, Charlie was on a continuous journey, actively pursuing the truth, learning, growing, and improving himself spiritually. He was clear about his approach on life and faith: “I'm just flesh and bone, but more importantly, I'm a soul, and that soul is accountable to one being.” Just days before his death, he hauntingly posted, “Jesus defeated death so you can live.” He did not shy away from speaking openly about his faith, and the world, consciously or not, responded deeply, on both ends of the spectrum.
This was never just a political struggle; it is, at its core, a spiritual battle. The conflict is about defending moral clarity in a world increasingly divided and confused: upholding the dignity of life, freedom of speech, and the enduring principles of family and virtue. Every debate, every campus discussion, and every act of leadership was a step in this larger journey and struggle.
In an extraordinary witness of faith, Erika, fighting back tears of overwhelming grief, lifted a crucifix through the car window to supporters as she escorted her husband’s body in Arizona. Thousands of miles away, in London, hundreds gathered in memory of Charlie under pouring rain on a Friday evening, chanting repeatedly: “Christ is King!” Deep down, we recognize that this was, is and always will be, a spiritual battle.
Alexandra Tompson
Editor | Lawyer (Admitted in New York; England & Wales)
