East Central Reporter

Charlie Kirk, a well-known conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was killed in Utah on September 10, 2025. Kirk, who grew up in the Chicago suburbs as the son of an architect, began his political career after dropping out of community college. He devoted himself to political activism and public speaking at Republican events across the country.

At age 18, Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA, a nonprofit organization focused on promoting conservatism among students on high school and college campuses. The group’s mission centers around encouraging open dialogue with young people about free markets, limited government, and constitutional principles.

State Representative Chris Miller responded to news of Kirk’s assassination with a statement:

“Charlie Kirk was a conservative who welcomed debate respectfully. We are celebrating 250 years of our great nation and respecting life. Charlie believed in free speech, but we have people like JB Pritzker telling the world that Republicans can’t know a moment of peace- basically saying if you don’t agree with woke ideology then you deserve to suffer. Charlie brought people together for peaceful open dialog on a variety of different topics and encouraged them to voice their opinions- this is democracy. The hateful rhetoric Pritzker spreads must be condemned.”

Miller is a Republican elected to the Illinois State House in 2023 representing the state’s 101st House District after succeeding Reggie Phillips.