Erika Kirk speaks at emotional Turning Point rally with JD Vance: ‘Find your voice’

OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI: Erika Kirk and Vice President JD Vance rallied conservative students at the University of Mississippi during her first college tour, delivering public remarks on Wednesday, October 29.

The event came seven weeks after Charlie Kirk was fatally shot in the neck on September 10 during the first stop of his planned 'This is the Turning Point' college tour at Utah Valley University.

Erika Kirk urges Mississippi students not to be ‘enslaved by fear’

Erika Kirk addressed students at the University of Mississippi, where 10,000 attendees packed into the Sandy and John Black Pavilion on the university’s Oxford campus. Notably, Charlie Kirk had been scheduled to speak at the event before he was killed.

Erika began, “Your generation is living at a crossroads, and we are witnessing in real time the battle raging for the soul of your generation. Find your voice. You are the courageous generation. My husband believed it to his core. Own it. Make him proud.”

Acknowledging the emotional weight of the day, she reflected on her husband’s murder, stating, “It can either be your breaking point or your wake-up call, essentially, your turning point."

She continued, “Charlie’s murder might seem like we’re standing in a shadow, as if death was the victory meant for the enemy. But looking around this arena, you are proof that the light of truth burns so brightly.”

Kirk urged students to follow her husband’s example: “We are commanded to not be afraid. And when you take that stand, it will encourage and inspire someone else to do the same … You can’t change a nation if you’re enslaved to fear.”

JD Vance honors Charlie Kirk and speaks to students at Turning Point

Erika Kirk invited Vice President JD Vance to speak at the event. He honored Charlie Kirk’s legacy and emphasized the importance of action over opinions.

“Charlie wasn't effective just because he had opinions. A lot of people have opinions. Charlie was effective because he was courageous, because he worked very hard, and because he made his vision a reality,” Vance said.

He added, “We ought to have faith that the best way to make sure the best idea wins is to actually just have a discussion. And that is what this event is all about. That is what Turning Point USA is all about. We’re going to have a discussion tonight, and that is what Charlie would want us to do.”

The crowd chanted “48,” referencing their hope for Charlie Kirk as the next president. Vance smiled and replied, “Let's not get ahead of ourselves.”

He also took questions from attendees, appealing to young people to focus on family and life choices: “While you’re young, have those babies if you’re able to.”