Several left-wing student organizations at Utah Valley University are planning to protest a memorial honoring Charlie Kirk on the one-year anniversary of his assassination, with one organizer saying the goal is to make attendance “as uncomfortable as possible.”
Turning Point USA will host “Freedom Built to Last, Honoring Charlie Kirk” on Sept. 10 at the UCCU Center on UVU’s Orem, Utah, campus. The event is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., with doors opening at 4 p.m.
The gathering will mark exactly one year since Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot while speaking before thousands of people at an outdoor event on the same campus.
The upcoming memorial is being organized privately by TPUSA rather than UVU.
Organizers describe the event as an opportunity to remember Kirk’s life and encourage supporters to continue his work. Registration is required, and prospective attendees must receive an official ticket before entering the arena.
Scheduled speakers include conservative commentator Glenn Beck, Christian apologist Frank Turek and TPUSA field officer Andrew Sypher, according to reports about the event.
At the same time, several groups are organizing demonstrations outside.
Students for a Democratic Society at UVU, the Community Defense Club of UVU, the national SDS organization and a group known as The Black Menaces have promoted the planned protest.
“We will not stand for this,” the organizations said in a joint announcement reported by The College Fix.
The groups argued that UVU’s decision to allow the event to take place while normal campus operations are closed amounts to an endorsement of Turning Point USA and Kirk’s political views.
They are calling on students to demonstrate against what they described as “racism, homophobia, bigotry and hate,” according to the report.
UVU, however, has characterized Sept. 10 as a day intended to give its community time for reflection and healing.
The university announced last month that classes would be canceled on the anniversary and most campus operations would close. Interim President Wayne Vaught said the day was intended to provide “space for reflection, service and connection.”
The UCCU Center will remain open for the separately organized TPUSA memorial.
Audio reported by The Cougar Chronicle and subsequently cited by other outlets captured SDS chapter president Collin Grannis discussing plans for the demonstration.
“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,” Grannis said, according to the recording.
He also reportedly said demonstrators needed to make clear to the university that there “shouldn’t be a memorial on campus.”
Sage Lloyd, president of UVU’s Turning Point USA chapter, responded by saying protesters have a right to demonstrate but urged them to remain peaceful.
“There is room on campus for both protest and grief,” Lloyd said, while arguing that violence, disruption or attempts to prevent remembrance would be inappropriate.
Disagreement over how Kirk should be commemorated has persisted at UVU since his death.
The university created a memorial committee following the September 2025 shooting to consider a permanent commemoration and said the process would incorporate input from students, Kirk’s family, elected officials and other members of the community, per Trending Politics.
UVU has also established an initiative called “Our Better Selves for a Better America,” which focuses on civil dialogue, conflict resolution and preventing political disagreement from turning into dehumanization or violence.
Kirk was killed Sept. 10, 2025, while participating in a campus debate before a crowd of more than 3,000 people.
Tyler Robinson, 23, has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and other charges in connection with the shooting. A Utah judge ruled Sept. 1 that prosecutors presented sufficient evidence for Robinson to stand trial, and prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
Security is expected to be heightened for Thursday’s anniversary gathering as supporters, speakers and protesters converge on the campus where Kirk was killed.
