A newly unveiled statue of the rightwing activist Charlie Kirk was vandalized at the Turning Point USA headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.
The statue was found with red spray-paint. A nearby poster memorial in front of the statue was vandalized with red paint as well.
Turning Point USA issued a statement about the incident. "We will restore the statue and replace the signs, but we are also reviewing the footage of the incident and are working with law enforcement to identify who did this and hold them accountable," Turning Point USA said in a statement.
The 8ft statue was installed on 10 September to mark the one-year anniversary of Kirk's killing.
Kirk, a key Donald Trump ally, was shot and killed at a Turning Point USA event in Utah.
A Utah judge recently ruled that the man accused of fatally shooting Kirk must stand trial for aggravated murder, a felony charge that makes him eligible for the death penalty if convicted.
The vandalism of the statue occurred amid rising political tensions in the United States. Charlie Kirk was a prominent figure in the conservative movement, and his death caused widespread resonance across the country. Turning Point USA installed the statue in front of its Phoenix headquarters in his memory.
Representatives of the organization view the vandalism of the statue as an act with a political motive. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and law enforcement is reviewing footage to identify suspects.
Earlier, a Utah court ruled that the man accused of killing Kirk must stand trial. The defendant is charged with aggravated murder, which carries the death penalty if convicted.
The death of Charlie Kirk had a significant impact on US political life. He was known as an active leader of the conservative youth movement. His work at Turning Point USA made him widely known among Republicans.
Information about the vandalism of the statue spread on social media and sparked various opinions in society. The organization announced the start of work to restore the statue.
