Hundreds Attend Charlie Kirk Event at NAU, a ‘Small Minority’ of Protesters Chant ‘Fascist’
Yesterday, nearly 300 people gathered to support, debate, or protest Turning Point USA CEO Charlie Kirk at Northern Arizona University (NAU), many chanted “F**k you fascist,” and “Trans rights are human rights” while others shouted their support for the TPUSA founder.
Students began gathering on campus in anticipation of Kirk’s arrival Tuesday afternoon, equipped with signs reading “Queer people belong here and always will,” and “trans rights = human rights.” Kirk planned to set up a debate table, frequently referred to as a “Change My Mind” table, to discuss cultural and political issues most prevalent in college students’ everyday lives. The event was open to students and the general public.
After arriving on campus, Kirk walked directly into the crowd of protesters. A video Kirk shared on social media shows him calmly having conversations with some of the members of the crowd, while others continued to scream in an attempt to block any meaningful dialogue.
“When you send your kids to America’s colleges and universities, you’re playing Russian Roulette with their values and their future,” Kirk wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Despite claims that Kirk’s event was entirely “drowned out” by protesters, several supporters of Kirk and Turning Point USA went to NAU’s campus to attend the event. Videos show several attendees greeting Kirk, taking photos with him, and thanking him for being there. Supporters even surrounded the table Kirk sat at and deafeningly chanted “Charlie! Charlie! Charlie!”
“We had more supporters than opposition today,” Kirk said on X. “I was there for nearly 3 hours talking and debating with students. I left as scheduled. But the ugliness of a small minority of planned LBGTQIA+ radical women is real. It’s depressing for sure. But the love and the support was also overwhelming,” he added.
“You can tell that the people shouting mindlessly with multi-colored hair were there to disrupt, not to listen,” Turning Point USA Contributor Benny Johnson remarked on X. “The normal looking kids in the crowd were there in support of @charliekirk11.”
Kirk, as well as other Turning Point USA contributors, have been protested by liberal students on campuses around the country, some rioters have previously been arrested for extreme violence or vandalism of school property as a result of a conservative speaker on campus. Earlier this year, Antifa rioters protesting Kirk at UC Davis in California were arrested after breaking windows attempting to gain access to Kirk’s event.
