Breaking news! 20 Minutes ago in Washington, Erika Kirk was confirmed as…See more👇
Breaking news! 20 Minutes ago in Washington, Erika Kirk was confirmed as…See more👇
Students Push Back Against Erika Kirk’s Planned High School Visit
Erika Kirk is shifting her focus to high school audiences after drawing a limited crowd at a recent state university event.
At a high school in Phoenix, students are voicing strong opposition to her upcoming appearance, with many questioning whether her message is appropriate for a school setting.
Following a low turnout at a Turning Point USA campus event, Erika has scheduled a visit to Pinnacle High School in north Phoenix next week. However, the response from students and parents has been far from welcoming.
“I’m not really sure why she’s coming here,” said Francisco Sanchez, a senior at the school. “The topics she discusses feel too extreme for a school environment. I believe there are more suitable speakers who could represent us better.”
Erika pictured at Charlie's funeral, which was held in Arizona at the Arizona Cardinals stadium.Daniel Cole/REUTERS
“It’s a little crazy because I would never have expected someone like her to show up at a high school,” high school senior Kasandra Acosta told the outlet.
“I’m pretty shocked. Honestly, I’m surprised it’s even happening,” she added.
Parents of students enrolled at the school told they were concerned about security--especially after earlier this week, Erika, who became CEO of her late husband Charlie Kirk’s TPUSA organization after his September killing, skipped an event at the University of Georgia over safety concerns.
“It’s not just your average citizen coming over to speak to the club. She brings politics with her, she brings division with her, just because everybody in America is divided,” Bobbe Noland, a parent of a Pinnacle student, told the Republic.
Vance, the second in line to the presidency, still attended the event earlier this week, despite security concerns with Erika.Jonathan Ernst/REUTERS
School officials told parents this week that students would see an increased security presence on campus during the event, prompting some parents to also demand that the school move her visit to after-school hours.
Phoenix Police told 12 News that since Erika’s visit was a private event, the responsibility for securing it rests with the event organizers and must be coordinated with the school district.
“We regularly work with community partners to support public safety during gatherings. As with any event, our officers will continue to monitor activity, review available information, and adjust deployment strategies as needed to help ensure a safe environment for students, staff, and the surrounding community,” a police spokesperson said in a statement.
Her speaking appearance has been organized with the school’s Club America chapter, a TPUSA-affiliated organization. The right-wing nonprofit is headquartered in Phoenix, and she and Charlie lived in the nearby affluent suburb of Scottsdale for many years.
The Daily Beast reached out to TPUSA for comment on the controversy.
Students at Pinnacle High School are not too enthused by Erika's visit to campus next week.Daniel Cole/REUTERS
It’s not the first time she and her late husband stirred up controversy in Arizona’s public schools.
In 2021, Erika and Charlie raged against the Scottsdale Unified School District’s mask policy during the COVID-19 pandemic at a school board meeting. At the time, the couple did not have any children yet.
During the meeting, Charlie called the mask policy a “self-righteous measure” enacted to “abuse the children.”
“There is zero evidence to show that children are at a significant risk of catching or dying from the Chinese coronavirus,” he claimed, adding, “You have awoke a sleeping giant. I hope you enjoy your masked, short-term future here while it still lasts.”
The Kirks had welcomed their first child in August 2022, a year after they complained to a school board about its COVID policies.Samuel Corum/Getty Images
Erika, who grew up in Scottsdale but attended private Catholic school, went as far as to demand a moment of silence at the board meeting for “the kids who will end up committing suicide this upcoming school year in 2021 and 2022 because of your reckless and ego-centered leadership and lack thereof.”
“As Christians, we are told to pray for our leaders and that is what I will do every day,” she said. “May God have mercy on your souls for everything you guys are doing in this leadership position.”One Scottsdale parent called them out, pointing out that they didn’t even have children who were enrolled in the city’s public schools.
“While the agitators from outside our district would have you think that masks mandates are only in place at liberal public schools, the list of private and parochial schools also enacting mask mandates is far from short,” the parent said. “I applaud SUSD’s governing board.”
"Dad... Lock Every Exit." Minutes Later, Every Billionaire in the Ballroom Was Trapped
"Dad... Lock Every Exit." Minutes Later, Every Billionaire in the Ballroom Was Trapped
"Dad..."
"Seal the exits."
I spoke into my phone without raising my voice.
With one hand, I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth.
Around me, the charity gala sparkled beneath towering crystal chandeliers.
Designer gowns shimmered.
Custom-tailored tuxedos filled the room.
Champagne worth thousands flowed as though money had no meaning.
The wealthiest people in the city laughed...
As if they hadn't just watched a woman being assaulted.
Some noticed the bruise darkening beneath my eye.
The ripped sleeve of my dress.
The blood staining my lips.
Then they quietly looked away.
Because silence was always safer than standing against power.
The man who had slammed me into the marble wall casually adjusted his diamond cufflinks.
His expression carried not an ounce of regret.
He strolled toward me as though attacking a woman was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
"Still calling for help?"
His friends burst into laughter.
One lifted his whiskey in a mocking toast.
"Go ahead."
"Let's see who has the courage to save you."
They were certain I was alone.
Defenseless.
Already defeated.
Slowly, I lowered my phone.
"Deploy the security unit."
My voice remained perfectly calm.
"Lock down the entire property."
A brief silence.
Then a composed voice answered.
"Yes, ma'am."
The line disconnected.
The man laughed so hard his drink nearly slipped from his hand.
"Pathetic."
"You really believe someone's coming?"
The ballroom erupted with laughter.
To everyone watching...
This was nothing more than tonight's entertainment.
The victim had already lost.
At least...
That's what they thought.
I slipped my phone into my purse.
The fear vanished from my face.
Only absolute certainty remained.
Then...
I lifted my eyes toward the security cameras.
And smiled.
BOOM!
A violent metallic explosion ripped through the ballroom.
The orchestra stopped in the middle of a note.
Champagne glasses froze halfway to trembling hands.
Another earth-shaking crash echoed through the hall.
Then another.
Every head snapped toward the exits—
Just as massive reinforced steel barriers crashed down over every doorway.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
Every exit was sealed.
Panic swept through the room like wildfire.
"What the hell is happening?"
Guests rushed for the doors.
They wouldn't budge.
Fists pounded against solid steel.
Nothing moved.
For the first time that night...
The smile disappeared from my attacker's face.
Every trace of confidence drained away.
He stared at me.
His voice came out as little more than a whisper.
"...What did you do?"
I took one slow step toward him.
"You made one fatal mistake."
His face lost all color.
"...What mistake?"
A slow smile spread across my face.
"You believed these doors were built to keep people out."
The final locking mechanism engaged with one deafening metallic CLANG.
Every escape route was gone.
I stopped directly in front of him.
"No."
"They were built..."
"...to make sure no one gets out."
And in that single terrifying moment...
Every billionaire...
Every politician...
Every untouchable name inside that glittering ballroom...
Realized the same horrifying truth.
This was no longer a charity gala.
It was a trap.
And every one of them was already inside.
Full story in the comments. 👇
If you'd like, I can also rewrite it in an even more cinematic, thriller-style voice while keeping the plot completely unchanged.
