BLACKSBURG, VA – Turning Point USA is continuing their American Comeback campus tour with an event at Virginia Tech. It is the second stop since Turning Point CEO, Charlie Kirk, was assassinated at Utah Valley University.
While speaking at the event, Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) announced he would make a $100,000 donation to the organization.
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“I challenge each and every one of you to engage,” Youngkin said to the crowd. “I think Turning Point is an unbelievably great place to engage. Therefore we are going to donate $100,000 to Turning Point USA to support new Turning Point chapters all over the Commonwealth of Virginia.”
Cheers erupted as students in red Turning Point hats stood and clapped. Many were seen wearing the white “Freedom” shirt Kirk was wearing when he was shot.
The Virginia Governor also spoke about his faith and ended his speech by leading a packed Burruss Hall in prayer. The auditorium can hold up to 3,000 people and nearly every seat was full. Slow moving lines wrapped around the Hokie Stone building before the event, as increased security measures had been added.
The “Prove Me Wrong” event that was supposed to take place during the day on the drill field was cancelled after Kirk was murdered. While students were upset the event had to be scrapped, they said it would be hard to fill Kirk’s shoes.
“Charlie Kirk is unique,” Virginia Tech student, Daniel Rhodes, said. “I don’t know how many people would be able to fill in for him and give the same level of passion for what he does.”
Virginia Tech student Eli Bynaker of Marshall, Virginia felt Mrs. Erika Kirk could possibly fill in under the debate tent.
“I’d say first off, his wife,” Bynaker said. “But I know that probably would be tough for her to do, but I think that would be cool too.”
The local Republican Party was also on hand, handing out pizza to people who registered to vote or showed they were registered to vote. Campaign volunteers for Virginia gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears were taking the time to educate students about the upcoming Virginia election.
One Virginia Tech student, Eli Bynaker of Marshall, Virginia, was able to use the QR code to register while standing in line. He said he had always planned to vote but the pizza was a good incentive to not procrastinate any longer.
“I just turned 18 last year,” Bynaker said. “So it’s just good timing, I was going to register to vote, but I saw the pizza here…”
Many students have been mobilized by what happened to Kirk. It has encouraged them to become outspoken in their beliefs, show up for these campus events, and profess their own faith.
“We wanted to come out and show solidarity, both for the conservative movement and of course, we just want to share the gospel with as many people as possible,” Liberty University student Jake Daigle said.
“Ever since his assassination, I really don’t care what people have to say about what I believe in anymore,” Kendrick South of Roanoke, Virginia said. He also came up from Liberty University. “I think we gotta stop living in fear and stand in strength, really stand in our faith and know that God’s got us.”
South went on to say he feels expressing his faith is the ultimate use of his free speech.
“Just with everything that’s recently happened, I feel like the whole country is on fire, and this really is the turning point,” Madeline Rideout said. “It’s awakened something, and especially our generation, where people are standing up and feeling very inspired to go to events like this.”
Rideout is from Tampa, Florida but is currently a student at Liberty University. She found out about the event two days ago and drove up with her sister.
“Just seeing everyone else here and hearing both the speakers, I’m really excited about that,” Rideout said. “It’s inspiring.”
“Our faith carries us a long way through life,” South said. “Jesus died so that we could live. To have someone die for the courage of their faith. He’s with God today. He’s a good and faithful servant, and we, 100% are backed by what he believed in and everything that he stood for.”
South’s friends all let out an “Amen.”
MEGYN KELLY GETS INTO HEATED EXCHANGE WITH STUDENT AT VIRGINIA TECH TPUSA EVENT
The evening event also featured political commentator and podcast host, Megyn Kelly. She spent about an hour answering questions from students.
Turning Point’s next campus event is on September 30 at Utah State. There are at least nine more campus events planned across the country with special guest speakers such as Vivek Ramaswamy, Tucker Carlson, and Rob Schneider.