Turning Point USA’s “America Love It or Leave It” tour stopped at Judson University October 6, and was met with a lively audience in the home state of Charlie Kirk.
The event featured speeches from student leaders who discussed topics pertinent to the tour, and the mission and values of TPUSA at large. They were followed by Turning Point Education Chief Education Officer, Hutz Hertzberg, and TPUSA CEO, Erika Kirk.
Hertzberg praised Charlie Kirk’s life and legacy, which, along with advancing the mission of TPUSA, he says will influence people to be courageous.
“Charlie has passed the baton,” Hertzberg stated fondly. “He’s given us a great example, a great model, and I can tell you at Turning Point USA there’s been no shrinking back. There’s been no pulling back. In fact, we are growing, expanding more than ever just as Charlie would want us to do, but the challenge is for all of us. You know, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was a pastor in Nazi Germany, said this silence in the face of evil is evil itself, not to speak is to speak.”
Erika Kirk discussed the importance of Judson’s location in Elgin, Illinois, which is near the native town of Charlie Kirk in Arlington Heights. Life in this region of Illinois helped shape his values and appreciation for hard work. It remained dear to him throughout his life, Ms. Kirk noted.
“He loved Illinois from the standpoint – not the political side – but from the standpoint of he loved the Midwest work ethic,” Kirk said of her husband. “He said that’s what really built him. He said nothing will strengthen a man’s character more than when you have to wake up super early in the morning and take the ice chipper… and start scraping off the ice [from a windshield]. He would always talk about how he loved the fact that this was the type of state where you shower before work and you shower after work.”
Kirk also presented a Judson student with a $5,000 scholarship toward the end of her speech.
