Shooting throws Utah students into heart of US political divide

September 13, 2025

Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative figure and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University, shocking students who witnessed the attack. Following the assassination, students across the political spectrum at the conservative-leaning campus have expressed a renewed commitment to political engagement and protecting open debate. The shooting has thrust the university into America's political divide, with some blaming Kirk's pro-gun stance while others claiming conservatives are under attack by the "radical left.

Who is affected

Students at Utah Valley University who witnessed the shooting
Members and potential members of Turning Point USA chapters
Conservative students and those inspired by Kirk
Students across various political ideologies at Utah Valley University
Young voters and politically engaged college students
Utah Valley University as an institution

What action is being taken

Students are joining Turning Point USA chapters in response to Kirk's death
Previously non-political students are engaging in political activities and displays
Students are creating memorial displays with candles and flowers on campus
Individuals are hanging posters with messages of "freedom" and "you can't kill the truth" in apartment windows
People are driving through campus honking their horns in either support or opposition to Kirk

Why it matters

Kirk's organization has branches at more than 850 colleges and helped galvanize younger voters
The shooting represents an attack on free speech and political discourse on college campuses
The incident has intensified America's political divide, with both sides using it to reinforce their narratives
Kirk's death is motivating previously non-political students to become politically active
The attack occurred at a conservative-leaning university in Utah, a state that is considered a conservative stronghold

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC