Remembering Charlie Kirk by Sarah Krutov

In 2019, I attended my very first  Turning Point USA (TPUSA) event in Washington, D.C. That’s where I bumped into
Charlie Kirk in the exhibit hall and met him for the first time. I remember asking if it was possible
to pursue both music and a career in politics. He gave me an honest answer: “Choose one or
the other.” I chose the latter, but that moment planted something in me that changed my life.
During that conference, I realized I had a genuine passion for politics and for my generation.
From then on, I worked with TPUSA to help countless students find their voices on campus, and
eventually had the honor of serving on the team to help 47 win.

If it hadn’t been for attending TSAS in 2019 and meeting Charlie, I wouldn’t have met some of
my closest friends, experienced the incredible opportunities that shaped my path, or discovered
the conviction to stand firm in my beliefs and use them as a force for good.
Charlie was truly a man of God who loved his family, his country, and the next generation with
everything he had. His mission wasn’t just about politics—it was about people. He wanted to
build a stronger America not only for his children, but for my generation and those to come. He
cared deeply about helping students on hostile campuses find their voices, and about pointing
everyone he encountered closer to Jesus.

Charlie Kirk had a tremendous impact on the lives of millions of young people. He gave Gen Z
the courage to stand up for what they believed in within a system that too often tried to silence
them. He valued conversation and connection, once saying: “When you stop having a human
connection with someone you disagree with, it becomes a lot easier to want to commit violence
against that group.”

Charlie Kirk will forever be remembered as a man of strong faith who loved his country and
worked tirelessly to make America a better place. The Christian conservative movement will feel
his absence deeply, but his legacy will continue in all of us who keep fighting for the values he
lived for.

Rest in peace, Charlie Kirk.

(The author was a camper and then served as  a counselor at Camp Constitution.)