(RNS) — The lawn of Grand Canyon University near downtown Phoenix was filled with hundreds of students Wednesday evening (Sept. 10) as the evangelical Christian school came out to grieve together the shocking passing of activist Charlie Kirk, who had been killed by a sniper’s bullet earlier in the day in Orem, Utah.
One by one, they spoke into a mic, many praying for Kirk’s wife and two children and sharing stories about his impact. Less than a year ago, many of these same students were sporting grins and red MAGA hats as Kirk, founder of the campus organization Turning Point USA, visited Grand Canyon on his “You’re Being Brainwashed” tour.
“His impact was astronomical,” said Gwyn Andrews, 22, who founded a TPUSA chapter at the University of West Georgia. “Every single person that is in my generation knows his name.”
Launched in 2012 when Kirk was just 18, Turning Point USA began as a way of educating students about fiscal responsibility and capitalism, but grew into a conservative powerhouse with more than 800 chapters on college and high school campuses. His success came because as a speaker and debater he faced off against conservative Christian kids’ “woke” counterparts, tirelessly representing conservative, and, increasingly, Trumpian v …