PHOENIX, AZ – A bronze statue of conservative activist Charlie Kirk was vandalized just days after it was unveiled at Turning Point USA's headquarters.
The 8-foot-tall statue, which depicts Kirk tossing baseball caps in a T-shirt that reads “FREEDOM," was doused in red paint. A sign nearby, which read “May Charlie be received into the merciful arms of Jesus, our loving savior,” was also defaced. A photo of Kirk’s face was crossed out and several of the words were scribbled out with paint.
The statue was unveiled on Sept. 10 to mark the one-year anniversary since Kirk was fatally shot at an event at Utah Valley University.
The vandalism quickly drew condemnation online, including from Turning Point USA, which said the incident was "diabolical."
"We will restore the statue and replace the signs, but we are also reviewing the footage of the incident and are working with law enforcement to identify who did this and hold them accountable," the organization said.
No one has been arrested or charged in connection with the vandalism, according to the Phoenix Police Department.
Memorial marked the anniversary of Kirk's killing
Mourners and local leaders had gathered on Sept. 10 to mark one year since Kirk was shot and killed at age 31 during a speaking engagement in Utah. Flowers, American flags and other mementos were piled at the statue’s feet and around the signs on Sept. 13. Many of the flowers had started to dry under the bright sun.
Kirk was the co-founder of Turning Point USA, a conservative powerhouse that blended political organizing, media and fundraising to become a force during the Trump era. Kirk was known for sharing his controversial views on the popular “The Charlie Kirk Show” podcast and for debating liberal students on college campuses.
Earlier in the month, a judge determined that Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing Kirk, must stand trial in the death of the conservative activist. Robinson has pleaded not guilty.
Turning Point leaders condemn vandalism
Turning Point officials and allies, including Kirk's widow Erika Kirk, condemned the vandalism and issued a rallying cry to get out the vote.
Turning Point USA contributor and alt-right activist Jack Posobiec wrote in a post on X that there were cameras "all over" the headquarters gate and "the perpetrators WILL be brought to swift justice."
Erika Kirk posted on X, "Charlie once said we should be building two statues for every statue that they tear down. His instinct was always to build, not to destroy.
"They thought a bullet would silence my husband’s voice but it only made it louder. They think spray paint can obscure his legacy, but it will only spread it further. Every attempt to tear down what Charlie built makes us root deeper and work even harder."
'They knew what they were doing'
Mesa resident Kyle Elliott said he had driven past the statue several times in the past week, including the night before the statue was vandalized.
“It’s a tragedy,” Elliott told the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network.
He pointed out the paint on Kirk’s neck and that the name “Jesus” appeared to be almost fully blotted-out by paint.
“Charlie, he was non-violent, and he suffered violence,” Elliott said.
“He didn’t even cuss,” chimed in Jason Agan, another Mesa resident standing nearby.
Agan said the vandalism didn’t appear to be random.
“They knew what they were doing,” Agan said.
Both Agan and Elliott spoke to an increasing political polarization, which Elliott said he believed could intensify after the incident. Agan, who attended a 2025 memorial following Kirk’s death, said his initial thought seeing the statue outside of the Turning Point fence was that it could be vulnerable to vandalism.
“Man, someone’s gonna get it,” he recalled thinking.
Turning Point Action Chief Operating Officer Tyler Bowyer wrote in a post on X when the statue was erected that the statue was placed outside the gates "so that others can enjoy it before it finds its final spot." In response to a comment from a woman concerned about vandalism, Bowyer wrote that it would be moved behind the fence at some point.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Charlie Kirk statue vandalized at Turning Point USA headquarters
