Erika Kirk, now leading Turning Point USA as CEO, made her debut in public speaking on a college tour at the University of Mississippi on Wednesday. Addressing a crowd of conservative students, she delivered an empowering message.

“Find your voice, you are the courageous generation. My husband believed it to his core,” she declared. “Own it, make him proud.”

Reflecting on the tragedy that occurred seven weeks ago, Erika shared her emotional journey following the assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk.

“It can either be your breaking point or your wake-up call, essentially, your turning point,” she remarked, alluding to the challenging days that ensued.

Erika emphasized that while Charlie’s murder might appear as a dark shadow, it is not a victory for the enemy. “Looking around in this arena, you are proof that this light of truth burns so brightly,” she concluded, inspiring those gathered.

Erika urged students to continue for the founding principles of their country, just as her husband did.

‘We are commanded to not be afraid. And when you take that stand, it will encourage and inspire someone else to do the same … you can’t change a nation if you’re enslaved to fear,’ she said. 

Erika Kirk speaks during a “This Is the Turning Point” campus tour event at the University of Mississippi

Crowds of Charlie Kirk supporters attend a Turning Point USA event

Students arrive to a Turning Point USA event at the Pavilion at Ole Miss with Vice President JD Vance and Erika Kirk

She was joined by Vice President JD Vance who also spoke at the rally and took questions from the audience. 

Vance urged the students to stop complaining about opinions they did not like on social media, but rather put their ideas into action. 

‘Charlie wasn’t effective just because he had opinions. A lot of people have opinions. Charlie was effective because he was courageous, because he worked very hard, and because he made his vision a reality,’ he said. 

After his remarks, the crowd of students chanted ’48!’ referring to their desire to make him the next president of the United States. 

‘Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,’ he replied with a grin. 

The event was held at the ‘Ole Miss’ Pavilion basketball stadium that holds nearly 10,000 people. 

Students waited in the rain for hours to get a seat for the event. 

This is Erika’s first in-person appearance at a Turning Point college event since her husband was shot and killed on September 10 at his first event of his planned ‘This is the Turning Point’ college tour at Utah Valley University. 

Erika previously spoke publicly on three separate occasions including her tearful memorial at her husband’s funeral and at the White House Rose Garden ceremony where President Trump posthumously awarded Charlie Kirk the presidential Medal of Freedom on what would have been his 32nd birthday.

Vice President JD Vance speaks during a “This Is the Turning Point” campus tour event at the University of Mississippi

Students attend a Turning Point USA at the University of Mississippi

 Kirk also rallied her husband’s supporters just days after his death, vowing that his mission would continue. 

‘You have no idea the fire you’ve ignited within this wife. The cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry,’ she said, after mourning the death of her husband.

After Kirk’s assassination, his friends and allies promised to help fill the rest of the stops of his planned tour and keep his show going. 

Vance announced his plans to appear at the Turning Point event on the Charlie Kirk Show, promising to do ‘exactly what Charlie did’ and take ‘tough questions’ from both sides of the political aisle. 

‘My plan is to give a little speech, talk about the issues of the day, but turn most of it over to just do Q&A with the audience. I want to hear from these kids, I want to answer questions from them,’ he said. 

Vance traveled to Tupelo, Mississippi with Second Lady Usha Vance for the event.

Vance and Kirk were close friends, as the vice president turned to the young activist for political advice. 

U.S. President Donald and Erika Kirk attend a ceremony to posthumously award the Medal of Freedom to Charlie Kirk.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance, his wife Usha Vance and wife of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Erika

Kirk helped rally young people during Trump’s 2024 campaign and also joined Vance on the campaign trail.  

The Vances grew closer to Erika and the Kirk family after traveling to Utah to be with the family after Charlie’s assassination and transporting his body aboard Air Force Two back to his home in Arizona for the funeral.

At the funeral, Erika personally thanked Usha Vance for her advice to her during the darkest days of her life. 

She recalled the second lady told her, ‘you will get through these 15 minutes and the next 15 minutes after that.’

‘Usha, I don’t think you realized it then, but those words were exactly what I needed to hear,’ she said.