An evening vigil was held in the heart of Sydney last Friday, commemorating the tragic passing of Charlie Kirk, a prominent American conservative figure. Kirk was a distinguished author and podcast host and maintained a close alliance with U.S. President Donald Trump. Aged 31, his life was abruptly ended in Utah while he was delivering a speech at a university, an act of violence President Trump referred to as a ‘horrific assassination’. Kirk’s main creation, a conservative advocacy group named Turning Point USA, has inspired several global subsets, including one in Australia, which gathered in memorial of their inspirer, lighting candles and reciting hymns as the sun set.
Earlier this year, the centre-left Labor party significantly won the nationwide elections in Australia. However, only a month ago, a multitude of individuals rallied against the newly elected government, dissenting against heightened immigration rates and the escalating cost of living. This backdrop set the stage for Kirk’s Australian supporters to not just grieve but persist with his mission in the aftermath of his untimely passing. Joel Jammal, founder of Turning Point Australia, addressed the mourners, numbering approximately 350, rallying them to continue Kirk’s cause.
‘The loss of Charlie stings deeply, but it would take more than a bullet to mute his voice,’ Jammal asserted, inspiring the crowd to carry on Kirk’s ideological legacy. He further urged his listeners to come out the following day to voice their dissent at planned anti-government rallies throughout the city. Considering the influence Turning Point USA had on its Australian parallel, Jammal’s determination to perpetuate Kirk’s message stems from an historical context as well.
Turnings Point Australia’s origin came about during the struggles of the COVID-19 pandemic when Jammal felt a deep sense of dissatisfaction with how traditional right-wing parties in the country had supported the imposed lockdowns. According to Jammal’s biography on Turning Point Australia’s website, his goal has been to help Australians understand who is exerting power over them, the reasons behind such exertion, and how exactly they could counteract politically.
Turning Point Australia shares a philosophical affinity with Turning Point USA, stemming from the same heartfelt longing for freedom. Although permitted to utilize Turning Point USA’s branding, in terms of management and policy posture, it operates autonomously. The Australian organization has not disclosed its list of members, but it has a history of hosting gatherings involving representatives from One Nation, a right-wing populist party whose place in Australian politics is significant despite holding only four of the 76 seats in the country’s Senate.
Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA was founded back in 2012. Its main aim was to promote right-wing causes in America, but Kirk’s vision didn’t stop at the national level. In recent years, he transcended borders to spread his socio-political messaging throughout numerous nations. Indicative of his global outlook, just days prior to his death, he celebrated the surge of young conservatives in South Korea and voiced concerns about a so-called ‘globalist threat’ while in Tokyo, during his first-ever speaking tour in Asia.
The post Sydney Vigil Honours Late American Conservative, Charlie Kirk appeared first on Real News Now.
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