Turning Point USA headquarters, Kirk statue vandalized

Tributes to Charlie Kirk were defaced over the weekend, shortly after the first anniversary of the conservative political activist’s murder, Turning Point USA said. Tyler Bowyer, chief operating officer of Turning Point Action, shared a video of red paint sprayed on a bronze statue of Kirk outside its headquarters in Phoenix. The paint covered the statue’s face and hand and was also dripping from its neck, in the same location as Kirk’s fatal wound. TPUSA had unveiled the statue days before the vandalism, marking a year since Kirk was shot from a distance during an appearance on a college campus. The sign had expressed a prayer for Kirk to be received into the arms of Jesus.

Bowyer also shared images of red spray paint crossing out Kirk’s face on a sign near the building. The word “Satan” appeared to be written in paint over the name of Jesus on the sign.

Bowyer said that TPUSA employees were able to clean and restore the statue. They also replaced the sign, he said. The organization originally planned to move the statue inside its tall metal gates, but might leave it outside to make a point, he said.

Who was responsible for the vandalism? No arrests seemed to have occurred as of Monday morning. CCTV cameras at the site caught video of the vandals, and police were investigating the crime, Bowyer said.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s story on statements and events commemorating Kirk one year after his death.