Since Charlie Kirk’s death on Sept. 10, Clemson’s Turning Point USA chapter has seen over 600 new members, numerous donations from University alumni and members of the community and thousands of new followers on social media platforms.
Charlie Clontz, president of Clemson TPUSA, and Jack Lyle, president of Clemson College Republicans, spoke about this growth, their concerns and gratitude towards the community at a vigil Monday night.
CCR and Clemson’s TPUSA chapter collaborated with the Anderson County Republican Party to host this vigil in honor of Kirk, a conservative activist and TPUSA founder and CEO.
At the Civic Center of Anderson, hundreds of people gathered to honor Kirk, who was shot and killed while debating college students at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. Individuals ranged in age from two to 70 years old, and numerous Clemson students were in attendance.
When Clontz took the stage, he expressed that the “world has been turned upside down.” He recalled Sept. 10 and the moment he saw a post by Candace Owens, a political commentator and author.
The post read: “Everyone please stop what you are doing and pray for Charlie Kirk.” Then Clontz saw the video of Kirk’s murder.
Jack Lyle followed Clontz, and said in his speech that the United States is defined by free speech, communication and ideas, and that debating “exists at the very center of our nation’s existence.”
CCR has spoken to Clemson College Democrats and plans to co-host a charity event on Sept. 30, Lyle continued.
The vigil also hosted multiple speakers from different backgrounds, including South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette.
Evette contrasted the two political parties, saying that Republicans and Democrats are experiencing different types of grief. To her, while liberals deal with “grief and hatred,” conservatives “deal with grief and prayer.”
She went on to thank Kirk for motivating an entire generation to use this event as their “battle cry” and to “pick up their microphone.”
Tyson Grinstead, member of the Republican National Committee, then spoke about diversity, equity and inclusion. Grinstead said that “the real minorities on college campuses are conservatives.” He advocated for more teenage Republicans within the Republican Party for a chance to “shape America’s future.”
Micah Black, a spokesman for South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson praised CCR and TPUSA at Clemson for showing “tremendous courage in standing up to the radicalism.”
United States Army veteran Graham Allen also provided words of encouragement to the crowd. “We’re going to continue to fight, not with bitterness but with joy of the assignment ahead, not with fear, but with strength.”
