A Minneapolis Councilwoman has voiced her objections to a Turning Point USA event held at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, accusing the organization of being linked to “hate-filled ideology and extremism.”
Councilwoman Robin Wonsley, who identifies as an independent socialist, criticized the university in a statement for hosting an event organized by TPUSA, established in 2012 by Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot on September 10 at Utah Valley University. The event at the University of Minnesota featured a talk by podcast host Michael Knowles.
“Hate has no place in Minneapolis, and I am deeply upset that the University of Minnesota is legitimizing an organization connected to extremist and hate-filled beliefs,” said Wonsley in her statement. “The UMN has previously punished both students and faculty for expressing their views on the Palestinian genocide, yet now they are giving a platform to a group that has attacked communities including Somalis, LGBTQ+ individuals, and immigrants. This is not just hypocritical but poses a risk to public safety, which is unacceptable.”
Wonsley further mentioned that after the event’s initial announcement, her office received “concerns from students on campus.” Following Kirk’s death, many, including herself, were “surprised that this event was still proceeding.”
“I was also informed that many classes today were held online as faculty received guidance from department leaders citing safety concerns related to this event,” Wonsley added.
Wonsley emphasized that the TPUSA event had “caused significant anxiety among many residents of Ward 2, especially those from communities frequently targeted by Kirk and TPUSA’s biased rhetoric.”
“There is widespread documentation of the hate speech Charlie Kirk and Turning Point espoused and understandably members of the community had safety concerns about the presence of TPU supporters on campus and whether they would wander into our surrounding communities, such as Cedar Riverside, which is largely Somali,” Wonsley continued.
The statement from Wonsley comes as Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, has stated that TPUSA’s “campus tour this fall will continue,” and that “there will be even more tours in the years to come.”
“AmericaFest here in Phoenix this December will go on,” Erika Kirk said. “It will be greater than ever. The radio and podcast show that he was so proud of will go on. And in a world filled with chaos, doubt, and uncertainty, my husband’s voice will remain. And it will ring out louder and more clearly than ever. And his wisdom will endure.”
– News reported that within 24 hours of Erika Kirk delivering a speech after her husband’s death, TPUSA “received 18,000 new chapter requests from across the nation.”
