OREM, Utah – Utah Valley University (UVU) is preparing for a significant gathering on September 10, marking the one-year anniversary of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination on campus. The day will feature a memorial event hosted by Turning Point USA (TPUSA), “Freedom Built to Last, Honoring Charlie Kirk,” which is scheduled to take place at the UCCU Center. Simultaneously, several left-wing student organizations are planning demonstrations outside the event, aiming to make attendance "as uncomfortable as possible."
"All that we’ll be able to do is stand outside, but if we can make it as uncomfortable as possible for people to get in," Collin Grannis, SDS chapter president.
The TPUSA memorial event, organized privately by the conservative group rather than UVU, is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. with doors opening at 4 p.m. Attendees are required to register and receive an official ticket for entry. The program is slated to include speeches from conservative commentator Glenn Beck, Christian apologist Frank Turek, and TPUSA field officer Andrew Sypher, according to reports. Organizers describe the gathering as an opportunity to remember Kirk’s life and to encourage his supporters to continue his work.
Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot on September 10, 2025, while speaking before thousands of people at an outdoor event on the same UVU campus. The incident led to the arrest of Tyler Robinson, 23, who has since pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and other related charges. A Utah judge ruled on September 1 that prosecutors presented sufficient evidence for Robinson to stand trial, and prosecutors are currently seeking the death penalty.
In response to the upcoming memorial, student groups including Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) at UVU, the Community Defense Club of UVU, the national SDS organization, and The Black Menaces have announced plans for a protest. In a joint statement reported by The College Fix, these organizations declared, “We will not stand for this.” They contend that UVU's decision to permit the event, especially while normal campus operations are closed, implies an endorsement of Turning Point USA and Kirk’s political views. The groups are urging students to demonstrate against what they have characterized as “racism, homophobia, bigotry and hate.”
Collin Grannis, president of the UVU SDS chapter, was reportedly recorded discussing the protest plans, stating, "All that we’ll be able to do is stand outside, but if we can make it as uncomfortable as possible for people to get in." He also reportedly indicated that demonstrators intend to convey to the university that "there shouldn’t be a memorial on campus."
For its part, UVU announced last month that classes would be canceled on September 10, with most campus operations closing for the day. Interim President Wayne Vaught stated that the day was intended to provide “space for reflection, service and connection” for the university community, emphasizing healing. The university clarified that the UCCU Center would remain open to accommodate the separately organized TPUSA memorial.
Sage Lloyd, president of UVU’s Turning Point USA chapter, acknowledged the protesters’ right to demonstrate but appealed for peaceful conduct. "There is room on campus for both protest and grief," Lloyd stated, while cautioning against violence, disruption, or attempts to impede remembrance.
The disagreement over how Kirk should be commemorated has been ongoing since his death. Following the September 2025 shooting, UVU established a memorial committee to explore options for a permanent commemoration, promising to incorporate input from students, Kirk’s family, elected officials, and other community members. Additionally, the university launched "Our Better Selves for a Better America," an initiative focused on civil dialogue, conflict resolution, and preventing political disagreement from escalating into dehumanization or violence.
Security is anticipated to be heightened across the campus for Thursday’s anniversary gathering, as supporters, speakers, and protesters converge on the site where Charlie Kirk was killed a year prior.
