After the September 10 assassination of Turning Point (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk at the University of Utah during his ‘America Comeback Tour,” SUNY Cortland staff and students reacted to the latest political violence.
“I’m at a loss for words,” John Suarez, director of the Galpin Institute and advisor to TPUSA on campus said. “And I’m still at a loss for words.”
TPUSA on campus commented on an Instagram story, “TPUSA at SUNY Cortland would like to thank everyone for their outpouring love and support. Now more than ever is the time to make a change.”
In the days after the shooting, Michael Bersani, the Interim Director of Communications affirmed that the police on SUNY Cortland campus were notified immediately of the assassination and kept in constant communication with the main University Police Department office in Albany.
“From a campus standpoint, obviously there was communication among campus leadership, Wednesday afternoon into Wednesday evening, especially with Turning Point’s advisor John Suarez,” said Bersani. “In the days since, I know there have been conversations with political and non-partisan groups on campus just to offer support and to help brainstorm potential events for healthy productive dialogue.”
“Political violence has no place on SUNY Cortland,” said Bersani. “Safety and well-being are our highest priority.”
Juan Prieto, a professor in SUNY Cortland’s Political Science department, researches political violence.
“I don’t know if ‘Years of Lead’ would be the right analogy,” said Prieto. “I do think that a potential for such an escalation is there.” Prieto added, “There’s powder in the [American political] system and I think a lot of it.”
Prieto said that much of the responsibility to ease the escalating violence rests on acting political authorities, but with the debate over the alleged shooter’s ideology continuing on social media, and the recent suspension “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Prieto said he believes the chances for de-escalation are dwindling.
On September 11, the alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson, 22, was taken into custody after his father recognized him in surveillance photos released by police.
Authorities have also released messages between the suspect and his roommate. “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out,” Robinson texted to his roommate after the shooting.
Kash Patel, Director of the FBI, announced that the FBI would be investigating more than 20 people in connection to Mr. Robinson on the platform Discord, a social media and instant messaging platform.
After being rushed to the hospital, Charlie Kirk was announced dead at 2:40 p.m. by President Donald Trump on Truthsocial. A bullet struck Kirk’s neck while he was answering a question about gun violence. Kirk is survived by his wife Erika and his two children, ages 1 and 3.
Kirk’s death marks the latest in a string of recent political violence, including the 2024 attempt on Donald Trump’s life in Butler, Penn. during the 2024 presidential campaign, as well as the fatal shooting of a Democratic Minnesota lawmaker and her husband in June 2025, an arson attack at the home of Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro in April 2025, and the suspected arson at the GOP’s New Mexico headquarters in March 2025.