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OREM, Utah – Students who support Charlie Kirk say they will not be deterred from advocating for the free speech rights that the Turning Point USA founder stood for before he was assassinated.
Two college students, cousins Anthony and McKinley Shinkle, told Fox News Digital on Thursday they came to support Kirk after the shooting and refused to be intimidated.
“Violence never works for those who use it, especially in this manner. We want to show that it doesn’t matter what you do. We are not afraid,” McKinley told Fox News Digital.
Though they never entered the venue, the Shinkles positioned themselves as vocal supporters of Kirk’s free-speech agenda and traditional values message.
In the aftermath, students questioned the lack of security.
“There was no checking of bags. No one was walking near the door. If we could walk in freely, anyone else could too,” Tao said. “Now that I’m back on campus, I don’t feel as safe. I’m definitely more traumatized than I thought I was going to be.”
For international students who had once seen U.S. political debate as a model of free expression, the incident left lasting doubts.
“This is the first time I participated in this, and after this I will have a little bit more fear talking about politics in public,” Lo said.
Still, Tao expressed gratitude that the tragedy was not even worse.
“I’m just thankful that a second gunshot did not go off,” she said.
