On a sun-drenched September afternoon at California Polytechnic State University, a small group of students stood just off the main thoroughfare, quietly handing out flyers and speaking with passersby. Their mission was somber: to spread word of a vigil honoring Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist whose life was cut short by violence earlier that month on a Utah college campus. For many, Kirk was a polarizing figure; for others, a mentor and inspiration. But for the leaders and members of Cal Poly’s Turning Point USA chapter, his death has become a rallying point—one that’s reshaping campus politics and echoing far beyond San Luis Obispo.
According to The Tribune, the Cal Poly Turning Point USA club saw its membership double in a single week after Kirk’s death, jumping from 40 to 80 members. The club’s Instagram account reported 98 sign-ups during the university’s annual club fair, a surge that club president Ryan Rundle attributes to renewed interest in Kirk’s mission of campus conservatism. "We want to have conversations, not assassinations," Rundle told reporters, reflecting a desire for dialogue rather than division in the wake of tragedy.
Yet, the road to unity has not been without bumps. Turning Point USA, the nonprofit Kirk founded more than a decade ago to promote conservative values on high school and college campuses, did not have an official booth at the club fair. As The Tribune explained, this wasn’t due to political exclusion but rather a procedural hiccup: the club failed to request a spot during the designated summer window, a misstep Rundle chalked up to miscommunication amidst leadership changes. The university, for its part, attempted to make an exception, but ultimately the club set up shop on a corner across from the fair’s main entrance. There, students in red shirts greeted a steady stream of interested peers—along with a few hecklers and critics who voiced their opposition.
Despite the tension, Rundle emphasized that Cal Poly administrators had been "totally, super helpful," underscoring that the club was not purposefully excluded. The episode highlights the often-fraught intersection of campus bureaucracy and political activism, especially when national headlines land at a local doorstep. "I hope you have a good day, God bless," Rundle replied to one jeering passerby, choosing civility over confrontation.
Charlie Kirk’s death on September 10, 2025, during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University, sent shockwaves through conservative circles nationwide. Kirk, just 31, was a prominent author, radio host, and podcaster, known for his outspoken critiques of what he saw as dangerous liberal ideas. According to USA TODAY, vigils have been held across Florida and throughout the nation since his passing, with mourners gathering to reflect on both his influence and the deep divisions he often stirred.
Nowhere is that legacy more pronounced than at Cal Poly, where Rundle and his fellow Turning Point USA members are navigating the aftermath with a blend of resolve and caution. "I feel, like, a lot of times in American society after a big tragedy, it doesn’t matter whether you’re left, right, red, blue, Christian, atheist, people have kind of united and been able to grieve," said Rundle, a fourth-year business administration student. "I really hope that we can just ... have a positive impact on campus, and be able to bring kind of, like, a unification into the campus."
To that end, Rundle has set his sights on fostering bipartisan dialogue. He plans to reach out to clubs with differing viewpoints, aiming to create a platform where students of all political stripes can engage in meaningful conversation. The club’s activities extend beyond politics, too, with past events including debate nights, trivia contests, and election watch parties. Safety, however, is now a top priority: the club is coordinating closely with campus security and local police to ensure that future events remain peaceful and protected.
The vigil for Kirk, organized by the Cal Poly Turning Point USA club, was scheduled for Monday, September 29, 2025, at 6 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center. The event—free and open to the public—was set to feature remarks from District Attorney Dan Dow and worship led by Active Church. According to The Tribune, the planning process has been marked by both anticipation and apprehension, as some students voiced concerns about safety in the wake of Kirk’s assassination. "I know people are super close with him, I know people feel personally wronged by him, but regardless, I think we should promote a culture, an environment where ... we don’t resort to people getting killed or people getting hurt," Rundle said. "We should be able to talk to each other, even if we totally disagree."
Kirk’s influence, of course, stretches far beyond the Cal Poly campus. In Florida, State Representative Juan Carlos Porras filed House Bill 33 on September 23, 2025, proposing to rename a segment of S.R. 985 in Miami-Dade County as "Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue." The bill, if approved, would direct the Florida Department of Transportation to erect suitable markers and would take effect July 1, 2026. It’s not the first time Florida has honored conservative icons in this way—most recently, a roadway was named for the late radio host Rush Limbaugh—but it’s the first such bill of the 2026 legislative session.
Porras’s motivation is deeply personal. As reported by USA TODAY, he helped Kirk establish one of the first Turning Point USA chapters in Florida at Florida International University during his own college years. "I would not be who I am today without the friendship of @charliekirk11," Porras wrote on social media, using Kirk’s online handle. "I am devastated and heartbroken to hear of his senseless assassination, violence has absolutely no place in political discourse."
The outpouring of grief has been matched by calls for reconciliation. At a memorial in Glendale, Arizona, Kirk’s widow Erika offered a message of forgiveness to the accused killer, drawing a standing ovation. "I forgive him because it was what Christ did and it is what Charlie would do," she said. "The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the Gospel is love."
As the 2026 Florida legislative session approaches—set to convene January 13, with committee weeks beginning October 6—the fate of the "Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue" bill remains to be seen. But whatever the outcome, the legacy of Charlie Kirk continues to shape conversations, both on college campuses and in statehouses across the country. For many, his death has become a flashpoint for reflection on the tone and tenor of American political discourse, and a reminder that the stakes of those debates are, at times, heartbreakingly high.
In the end, the story unfolding at Cal Poly and in Florida is not just about one man’s legacy, but about the enduring challenge of finding common ground in a deeply divided era. Whether through vigils, legislative tributes, or simple conversations on a campus sidewalk, the search for unity—and the hope for something better—goes on.