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The aftermath of Kirk’s death will be a particularly sensitive and critical time. Because, as important as it is to denounce his murder and all political violence, it will also be important to guard against the propagation of some of his most intolerant ideas and incendiary methods, particularly as his supporters seek to valorize him.

On Sunday evening, thousands gathered at Washington D.C.鈥檚 John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to mourn his death. That included not just family (Kirk was a husband and father of two) but also friends and leading Trump administration officials.听

Kirk was the founder of Turning Point USA, an organization that commits itself to 鈥渋dentifying, educating, training, and organizing students to promote freedom鈥� on high school, college and university campuses. Turning Point USA believes freedom consists of limited government and individual liberty.听

Part of the broader right-wing populism that began to flourish under Trump鈥檚 first administration, Kirk thrived on his ability to sow seeds of conflict,听including听through misinformation.听

Several of his favoured topics included the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccinations, voter fraud in the 2020 election, and the Jan. 6 鈥淪top the Steal鈥� invasion of Capitol Hill.听

He also frequently railed against liberal viewpoints on reproductive rights and feminism, LGBTQ+ issues, immigration, visible minorities, climate change and gun control.听

As a radio host, podcaster and activist, his social media approach was combined with in-person appearances and direct dialogue,听often speaking directly to young people at academic institutions, allowing him to reach millions.

When Kirk visited Utah Valley University in Orah for his 鈥淭he American Comeback Tour,鈥� the first of 15 campus stops across the country, he urged students to debate him on various topics at the 鈥淧rove Me Wrong鈥� table. Turning Point USA鈥檚 website quotes him as stating, 鈥渨e play offence with a sense of urgency in America鈥檚 culture war.鈥澨�

He would then post these clashes on social media, alongside heated titles, intended to simultaneously incite rage and delight among conservative youth because he was 鈥渙wning the libs.鈥� Universities, faculty and students that disagreed with his viewpoints were his enemies 鈥� he even created a professor 鈥渨atchlist鈥� detailing so-called 鈥渞adical鈥� behaviour.听

Kirk听was a community college dropout himself, having attended Harper College in Palatine, Illinois for one semester before founding Turning Point USA in 2012. In fact, Kirk saw his degreeless status as a point of pride听鈥� a stand听against the supposed elitism of academia. His efforts were part of the Trump administration鈥檚 broader campaign to weaken American colleges and universities and undermine the liberal ideologies that are frequently associated with them. In effect, to erode their 鈥渨oke鈥� elements.听

Kirk’s body was brought home on Air Force Two accompanied by the Second Family, flags were ordered flown at half-staff at the White House and all public buildings and grounds, and he was mourned at the nation鈥檚 most sacred cultural institution,听currently chaired by the president of the United States, for the first time in its history.听

During Sunday鈥檚 vigil House Speaker Mike Johnson implored mourners to 鈥渁dvance Kirk鈥檚 principles and adopt his approach.鈥澨鼳ccording to Turning Point USA鈥檚 website it has more than 900 college chapters and 1,200 high school ones that help to register voters and ensure they actually turn out to vote. It calls itself the nation鈥檚 largest youth movement.听

While that claim may be debatable, those听numbers are likely to increase following Kirk’s meteoric rise to MAGA martyrdom. Turning Point USA鈥檚 website was quickly updated to reflect his death. It now calls for donations, including to his family, and is selling $50 T-shirts in his memory. According to spokesperson Andrew Kolvet, in just 48 hours Turning Point USA has received 32,000 inquiries to start new campus chapters, ensuring that Charlie鈥檚 vision will 鈥渃ome true much faster than he could have ever imagined.鈥�

Kirk鈥檚 murder highlights the connections between politics and culture. He was asked about transgender mass shootings at the precise moment he was fatally shot. Gun violence is never a solution. Kirk鈥檚 murder was deplorable and should be denounced.

The 22-year-old man who was arrested for his murder had allegedly become radicalized, a threat that exists when impressionable youth are exposed to hateful rhetoric, the kind fuelled by the culture wars. The upcoming days and weeks will prove pivotal, as the Trump administration has the potential to use Kirk鈥檚 murder to further justify its gradual infiltration of America鈥檚 institutions, including those campuses where the stark divisions of the culture wars, much of which Kirk stoked to mobilize youth, loom large.