Charlie Kirk, Turning Point USA founder, puts on a MAGA hat during the AmericaFest 2024 conference sponsored by conservative group Turning Point in Phoenix, Arizona, December 19, 2024. REUTERS/Cheney Orr
The conservative political organization founded by the late Charlie Kirk is planning an event at a Phoenix-area high school, and the students are not happy to be hosting such an "extremist" speaker.
As highlighted in a report from The Daily Beast, Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk is scheduled to speak next week at Pinnacle High School in North Phoenix. She and the organization — founded by her husband and known for promoting far-right, MAGA-aligned ideas — are "not being met with open arms by students and parents," however, with members of the school and the community speaking out in the local press.
“I don’t know why she’s coming here, to be honest,” Francisco Sanchez, a senior at Pinnacle High School, told 12 News Phoenix. “I think the topics that she talks about are too extremist for a school. I think there are better representatives we can have.”
“It’s a little crazy because I would never have expected someone like her to show up at a high school," senior Kasandra Acosta told the network. “I’m pretty shocked. Honestly, I’m surprised it’s even happening."
"It’s not just your average citizen coming over to speak to the club," Bobbe Noland, a parent of a Pinnacle High student, told the Arizona Republic. "She brings politics with her, she brings division with her, just because everybody in America is divided."
Parents speaking with the Republic about the situation also said that they were concerned about the security concerns that Kirk's presence might cause at the school. She previously backed out of a speaking event at the University of Georgia due to safety concerns.
The school confirmed to parents that Kirk's event would result in a greater security presence at the school. Some parents countered, demanding that the event be moved to an after-school timeslot, if safety is such a concern.
“We regularly work with community partners to support public safety during gatherings," Phoenix Police said in a statement to 12 News. "As with any event, our officers will continue to monitor activity, review available information, and adjust deployment strategies as needed to help ensure a safe environment for students, staff, and the surrounding community."
Kirk was named CEO of Turning Point last year, after her husband was shot and killed at a speaking event at a Utah university. Since then, the organization has become embroiled in new controversies, with its own former and current employees buying into conspiracy theories suggesting that Charlie Kirk's death was orchestrated by outside forces.