Bronze statue of Charlie Kirk vandalized at Turning Point USA headquarters
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A bronze statue of conservative activist Charlie Kirk was sprayed with red paint at Turning Point USA's Arizona headquarters days after its unveiling, prompting an investigation by police.
A bronze statue of conservative activist Charlie Kirk was defaced with red paint at Turning Point USA's headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, a few days after it was unveiled. The eight-foot-tall figure, which shows Kirk tossing baseball caps while wearing a T-shirt that reads “FREEDOM,” also had a nearby sign altered and a photo of his face crossed out.
Turning Point USA said the act was "diabolical" and announced that it would restore the statue, replace the signs, review security footage and cooperate with law enforcement. The Phoenix Police Department reported that no arrests have been made.
The statue had been installed on Sept. 10 to mark the one-year anniversary of Kirk’s fatal shooting at a Utah university event. Local residents and Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, condemned the vandalism. Erika Kirk posted on social media that attempts to erase his legacy would only amplify it.
Authorities are reviewing surveillance footage from the site, which includes cameras around the headquarters gate, to identify the perpetrators.