Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz told his fellow lawmakers that the assassination of Charlie Kirk is not a reflection of the citizens of Utah.
The Utah Legislature remembered the life and service of former conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Monday, months after his death was witnessed by thousands of Utahns at Utah Valley University.
Students of local Turning Point USA college chapters across the state filled the gallery as Kirk, his wife Erika and TPUSA, the conservative nonprofit Kirk founded and his wife now operates, were presented a legislative citation honoring them all.
The citation was approved in the House by unanimous vote; Rep. Nicholeen P. Peck, R-Tooele, who introduced the honor, called it a “big moment.”
“All of the people in our body, whether they are Republicans or Democrats, we value life, we value people, we value good, civil discourse. We do not want violence,” Peck told the Deseret News. “None of us do. And so to me, that was a big moment to have everybody stand together and say, ‘Yeah, we honor the life of this person, even if some people didn’t agree with him all the time.’ That was a real mature and just proud moment for our state.”
House Minority Leader Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, said the following in a statement following the presentation of the citation:
“I am deeply sorry for the loss felt by the family of Charlie Kirk. Political violence has no place in our state or our country. I condemn all acts of political violence, regardless of ideology or affiliation. That stance applies not only to Mr. Kirk, but also the assassination of my friend Minnesota Democratic Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband. Violence has no place in our democracy, and we will continue to reject it in all forms.”
UVU’s TPUSA chapter president, Caleb Chilcutt, appeared on the House and Senate floor to receive the citation for the Kirks and TPUSA chapters. He told the Deseret News he was “beyond honored” to accept it.
Since Sept. 10, Chilcutt said his UVU chapter has experienced massive growth following Kirk’s death as they continue with his legacy. In December, he met Erika Kirk at TPUSA’s America Fest, where he received the first-ever Charlie Kirk Courage Award. Despite it all, he said he still doesn’t think he’s fully digested the death of Kirk.
He said his motto is “keep moving forward.”
“I bring that to wherever I go,” he said. “Whatever it may be, just one foot after the other, just got to keep fighting the good fight. And we’re doing that for Charlie, but also for all those other students, the 6,000 people that were there that day. We want to give the message that we’re not backing down. We’re not letting political violence stop us. We’re here, and we’re louder than ever.”