A Minneapolis Councilwoman criticized Turning Point USA’s event at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and accused the group of having ties to “hate-filled ideology and extremism.”
In a statement, Minneapolis Councilwoman Robin Wonsley, an independent socialist, expressed frustration with the university for allowing an event by TPUSA, which was founded in 2012 by Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on September 10 during an event at Utah Valley University. The TPUSA event at the university on Monday featured podcast host Michael Knowles.
“Hate has no place in Minneapolis, and I am deeply frustrated that the University of Minnesota has attempted to normalize a group that is tied to hate-filled ideology and extremism,” Wonsley said in her statement. “The UMN has denied, penalized, and criminalized both students and faculty for using their voices to protest against the genocide in Palestine, but is now providing a platform for a group that has targeted many groups our neighbors belong to, such as Somalis, LGBTQ+ people, and immigrants. Beyond hypocrisy, tonight’s actions by the university are risking people’s safety and that is unacceptable.”
In her statement, Wonsley continues to admit that “when this event was initially announced,” her office received “concerns from students on campus,” and that after Kirk’s assassination, many people, including her, “were surprised that this event was still being put on.”
“I also am aware that many classes today took place virtually as faculty were advised by their respective department leaders due to safety concerns related to this event,” Wonsley continued.
Wonsley continued to state that TPUSA’s event had “stirred deep anxiety among many Ward 2 residents, particularly those belonging to groups who have often been the focus of attack and bigoted rhetoric” from Kirk and TPUSA.
“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.”
Breitbart 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.”
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