UC Berkeley officials are keeping security plans confidential but confirm they are ready to host the conservative group Turning Point USA on November 10. This comes nearly two months after the organization's founder, Charlie Kirk, was assassinated during a tour stop at Utah Valley University.
Turning Point USA is a nonprofit committed to promoting conservative values on high school and college campuses. It was co-founded in 2012 by Charlie Kirk and his mentor Bill Montgomery. The upcoming event at Berkeley marks the group's first appearance on a California college campus since Kirk's death.
Kirk’s killing has heightened concerns over political violence and sparked discussions about how universities manage security alongside free speech rights. The tragedy has made the issue deeply personal for John Paul Leon, a junior and president of Berkeley’s Turning Point USA chapter, which started in 2019.
“(We’ve) been wanting Charlie for a long time,” Leon said. “I’ve been planning this since… June… It’s been a lot of work, but it’s definitely worth it.”
This event at Berkeley symbolizes a determined return to campus activism for the organization despite recent tragedy.
Summary: UC Berkeley is set to host Turning Point USA’s first California event since founder Charlie Kirk's assassination, balancing heightened security concerns with a commitment to free speech.