Erika Kirk, widow of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, has vowed to continue her husband's work. Photo: Turning Point USA/YouTube
Erika Kirk, widow of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, has vowed to continue her husband's work, telling supporters his death had "ignited a fire" that would only make his movement stronger.
"If you thought that my husband's mission was powerful before, you have no idea… what you just have unleashed across this entire country."
Speaking publicly for the first time since her husband was shot dead at a rally in Utah on 11 September, Erika said that the organisation he built, Turning Point USA, would only grow.
"The cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry," she said.
"The movement my husband built will not die. It will become stronger, bolder, louder, and greater than ever."
Kirk, 31, was killed by a single bullet while addressing students at Utah Valley University.
Authorities have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson of Washington, Utah, with the murder after a two-day manhunt.
A mugshot released by the Utah Governor's Office shows Charlie Kirk shooting suspect Tyler Robinson. Photo: Utah Governor's Office / CNN Newsource
Investigators say Robinson left behind a bolt-action rifle inscribed with anti-fascist slogans, including "Hey fascist, catch!" and a line from the Italian resistance anthem Bella Ciao.
A family member told police Robinson had recently become "more political" and had singled out Kirk.
Photo: AFP / FBI / Handout
Utah Governor Spencer Cox likened the killing to the political assassinations of the 1960s, calling it "an attack on our ideals."
US President Trump, a longtime ally, called the shooting a "heinous assassination," while Vice President JD Vance, a close friend of the Kirks, helped escort the body home.
Kirk rose to prominence in 2012 after founding Turning Point USA, aimed at young conservatives.
He became a key figure in Trump's political orbit, visiting the White House more than 100 times and helping boost youth turnout for the 2024 election.
Charlie Kirk pictured in US President Donald Trump's swearing in ceremony earlier this year. Photo: ANDREW HARNIK / AFP
A lightning rod on the right, his podcast ranked among the most popular in the US, attacking vaccines, climate science and progressive social movements.
The Kirks married in 2021 and have two young children.
In her video livestream, Erika called her husband a "martyr" who "laid down his life for our nation, for our children."
"They killed Charlie because he preached a message of patriotism, faith, and of God's merciful love."
She pledged that his radio show, campus tours, and Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference would continue.
"We will never surrender," she said.
Addressing her late husband directly, Erika promised to "make Turning Point USA the biggest thing this nation has ever seen."
"I will never let your legacy die."
The killing is the latest in a string of violent political attacks in the US, including two assassination attempts targeting President Trump and the murders of a Democratic lawmaker and her husband in Minnesota.
- RNZ/CNN
