In a solemn but resolute gathering, hundreds of conservatives and community members convened at the America First Warehouse in Ronkonkoma to honor the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, who was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University.
“I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve,” said Master of Ceremonies Kevin Downey Jr., quoting Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto after the attack on Pearl Harbor. His words framed Kirk’s death not merely as a tragedy but as a galvanizing moment for the conservative cause.
Liza Azarelli, another America First Warehouse podcaster, condemned the political left’s accusations branding President Donald J. Trump and Kirk as Nazis, dictators, or worse, rhetoric she said fueled hostility against conservatives. She reminded the crowd that Kirk’s message was not vitriolic but an invitation to open debate. To those who disagreed, she recalled, he asked them “to come to the front of the line,” to engage him directly rather than resorting to bloodshed.
Azarelli also denounced the hundred-plus school teachers and others across the country who have been fired or disciplined for posting disparaging comments after Kirk’s death, remarks suggesting he “deserved it” for his political views. Such hostility, she argued, is part of a broader playbook to silence opposing voices by smearing them as extremists and intimidating those who dare to speak out.
Another speaker, Suffolk’s “Red Light Camera Robinhood” Steve Ruth, recalled his own battles against the county’s traffic cameras, which he claimed compromised safety. “I was up against some powerful forces and I feared for my life,” he said. “Charlie gave me the strength to keep doing what I knew was right.” Ruth, who hosts the Know Your Enemies podcast from the Warehouse, said the eventual discontinuation of the cameras reflected the same spirit of standing up that Kirk inspired.
The benediction was delivered by Crystal McCarthy of Christ to Conquer the Nations Church. She remembered Kirk’s faith, his insistence on speaking truth, and his call for people not to retreat from the issues of the day. “In his walk, Charlie showed us love for country intertwined with love for neighbor—even those who disagree,” she said, urging attendees to honor his life by holding fast to the principles of free speech, dignity, justice, and peace.
The Ronkonkoma memorial was one of many services held across the nation and internationally. Vigils took place from Utah to Australia, from Sydney’s Hyde Park to churches and college campuses across the United States, as communities expressed both grief and resolve.
President Trump announced that Kirk will posthumously receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, calling him “a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty and an inspiration to millions.” Many in the conservative movement are already describing Kirk as a martyr—not for violence, but for dying while standing for free speech, patriotic ideals, and the kind of debate they believe his life represented.
Support poured in from around the world, not only from conservative circles but across political divides. Calls for nonviolence and civility were joined by reflections on what it means to disagree without hatred. Some conservative commentators, including former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, described the assassination as an “act of war” fomented by forces bent on destroying the populist MAGA movement. The event took the place of Bannon’s Rebels, Rogues, and Outlaws tour, which was cancelled after Kirk’s killing.
Speakers also contrasted the peaceful memorials with episodes of violent unrest in recent years, especially the riots and destruction following George Floyd’s death in 2020, when Antifa and Black Lives Matter demonstrations descended into looting and arson. “We mourn, we remember, but we do not riot,” one attendee said, capturing the theme of the Ronkonkoma service. The contrast underscored the belief among many at the Warehouse that political protest and expression need not descend into violence.
Founded by Kirk in 2012, Turning Point USA emerged as a youth-oriented conservative organization focused on culture-war issues, campus activism, free markets, and limited government. Under his leadership, the group grew into a major force with donors, students, and media outlets, with chapters on campuses nationwide. His mobilization of young voters was credited with helping Trump secure a second term.
Kirk’s “Prove Me Wrong” style of debate — challenging opponents and inviting direct confrontation of ideas — became one of his signature formats. His death has intensified conversations about political violence, security at public events, free speech, and the risks faced by outspoken figures. Kirk leaves behind his wife, Erika, a three-year-old daughter and a son, one.
The venue for the Ronkonkoma memorial, created by “Joe the Box,” is itself a monument to patriotic themes. Known as “America’s Most Patriotic Venue,” the Warehouse is packed with flags, memorabilia, and events celebrating conservative causes. “Charlie Kirk stood for everything this place was built on: truth, courage, and love of country,” Box said. “His voice will echo through these walls as a reminder that freedom is never free.”