An US school assignment went viral for all the wrong reasons this week — quizzing fifth-grade students on the life and work of Charlie Kirk. The right-wing activist was shot dead last month during a college event in Utah.
The now-viral clip was first shared on TikTok by a parent and highlighted various excerpts from the assignment packet. The multi-page booklet was titled “The Life of Charlie Kirk” and included a brief biography and several illustrations. It also included a one-page true or false quiz that asked the children to fact-check various details, including how he had died.
“Many people remember Charlie for his faith, his dedication to helping young people, and his belief that one person can make a difference,” read the last question.
Another page asked the students to write a summary on his “legacy” — dividing it by career, family and other interesting facts. The packet also included a reading comprehension question that asked the fifth graders to explain how faith influenced his life and decisions.
The assassination of a top ally of President Donald Trump and a significant figure in his Make America Great Again movement has galvanized conservatives, who have vowed to carry on Kirk’s mission of encouraging young voters to embrace conservatism and moving American politics further right. Kirk has been celebrated as a “martyr” by many on the right, and Turning Point USA has seen tens of thousands of requests to create new chapters in high schools and colleges.
Turning Point moves forward without Charlie Kirk
The bizarre assignment came even as Turning Point USA returned to Utah for the first time since the attack against its founder. Thousands of supporters came together to honour the late podcaster at the end of September. Conservative podcast host Alex Clark kicked off the event, which she described as the group’s largest on-campus tour stop.
“I’m not here to eulogize Charlie Kirk,” she said, but to “pass the torch on to every single one of you.”
Hours before the event, the Logan campus temporarily evacuated a building but later deemed it safe after a “non-explosive” device was found. Authorities are investigating but the university does not believe the package was a threat or related to the Turning Point event, school spokesperson Amanda DeRito told The Associated Press.Security at the event was tight, with a heavy law enforcement presence surrounding the arena, a no-bag policy, metal detectors and drones overhead.