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Erika Kirk urges graduates to follow in her husband’s footsteps: ‘Defend liberty’
NY Post ^ | May 9, 2026 | Katherine Donlevy

Posted on 05/09/2026 3:49:36 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege

Charlie Kirk’s widow Erika called on the next generation of Christian scholars to follow in her husband’s footsteps and pursue truth and “defend liberty” during her commencement speech at Hillsdale College Saturday.

Kirk kicked off her speech with a story about her and Charlie Kirk’s honeymoon, which they both agreed would be a “disconnected” vacation, meaning no computers or cell phones.

Charlie Kirk, however, used the emergency phone to keep up with the free, online courses he was taking at Hillsdale College, a breach of the newlywed’s agreement that Kirk said she was more than happy to allow.

“He really understood that this institution wasn’t normal. It was something that elevated his thinking to be a thought leader and really become a serious person. Not just a political talking head, but someone who truly sought out the beautiful things in life, the good, the true, and he really took that seriously because he loved learning. And that’s what set him apart,” said Kirk.

Following the 15-minute speech, the Christian institution’s president, Dr. Larry Arnn presented Kirk with two honorary degrees of public service: one for her and another as a posthumous award for her husband.

Arnn had promised to give the pair the honor during Charlie Kirk’s September memorial.


(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: arnn; charliekirk; college; commencement; education; erikakirk; graduation; hillsdale; hillsdalecollege; kirk; larryarnn; speech; tpusa

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“Through his learning, Charlie was better able to recognize his duty to pursue truth and to defend liberty, and this responsibility he felt to God. He felt it for our family, to our country, and that was born from what he learned.”
1 posted on 05/09/2026 3:49:36 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

Just GO AWAY. Attention W


2 posted on 05/09/2026 4:21:57 PM PDT by faucetman (Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts )
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

She is correct. Our nation was founded with His Providence, and only through Him and our Founding Fathers can it be saved.

It is not without irony that she is there with Hillsdale’s Larry Arnn since it has become known that Kirk would spend some of his free time taking Hillsdale’s online courses and that was a part of how he gained his foundational knowledge.

We need a thousand Hillsdale Colleges across this country.


3 posted on 05/09/2026 4:25:19 PM PDT by ProgressingAmerica (The U.S. Constitution is not a suicide pact. Progressivism is a suicide pact.)
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To: faucetman

Erika Kirk is a lightweight who uses her late husband’s death to bask in the limelight and style herself as some sort of conservative movement leader, despite being completely temperamentally and intellectually unfit for the role. The sooner she fades away the better, her 15 minutes of fame ran out about 8 months ago.


4 posted on 05/09/2026 4:26:00 PM PDT by ek_hornbeck
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To: ek_hornbeck

I really don’t understand these responses. I will continue to ignore them. Sorry for responding


5 posted on 05/09/2026 4:34:11 PM PDT by linedrive ( )
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To: faucetman

Thank you.


6 posted on 05/09/2026 4:50:30 PM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: ek_hornbeck
Erika Kirk's only intention was to marry Charlie and have a family. Then her husband was assassinated by a depraved pervert and she was thrown into the spotlight and had to lead. Which she is doing. She's done more for America than you have.

Go walk west until your hat floats.

7 posted on 05/09/2026 4:56:10 PM PDT by Vision (“Our Democracy” means "Our Slush Fund." The Left is hate.)
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

The responses about Erika Kirk by “conservatives “ on this thread are disturbing. It’s the same rhetoric thrown at her on Reddit and DUh.

Disgusting.


8 posted on 05/09/2026 5:32:21 PM PDT by Reddy (BO stinks)
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To: faucetman

You do the same, jagoff


9 posted on 05/09/2026 5:49:36 PM PDT by cowboyusa (YESHUA IS KING OF AMERICA!)
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To: ek_hornbeck

You are an asshole


10 posted on 05/09/2026 5:50:13 PM PDT by cowboyusa (YESHUA IS KING OF AMERICA!)
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To: ek_hornbeck
...uses her late husband’s death to bask in the limelight...

She wants to continue with her husband's work because she believes that is what he would have wanted. She would have been perfectly happy to just be good wife and mother to her two children. You, however , are soulless, attacking a widow who lost her husband to murder .

11 posted on 05/09/2026 6:27:08 PM PDT by Nateman (Democrats did not strive for fraud friendly voting merely to continue honest elections.)
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To: ek_hornbeck

What a pathetic comment.


12 posted on 05/09/2026 7:12:54 PM PDT by TXBlair (Temp tagline: Je suis Charlie. 9.10.25 May the good Lord receive and embrace you, Mr. Kirk.)
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To: faucetman

Why don’t YOU go away?


13 posted on 05/09/2026 7:14:34 PM PDT by TXBlair (Temp tagline: Je suis Charlie. 9.10.25 May the good Lord receive and embrace you, Mr. Kirk.)
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To: Vision

Beeee Essss.


14 posted on 05/09/2026 8:14:42 PM PDT by Glad2bnuts
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

I watched the entire ceremony. Erika gave an excellent speech.

Proudly we sing of college halls...


15 posted on 05/09/2026 8:51:49 PM PDT by TBP (Decent people cannot fathom the amoral cruelty of the Democrat cult.)
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To: ProgressingAmerica
We need a thousand Hillsdale Colleges across this country.

I hve been saying this for years.

De Santis openly wants to turn New College of Florida into "the Hillsdale of the South."

I would begin creating a thousand Hillsdales by having people on our side buy up some campi (Rushism) that have shut down and reopen them in the Hillsdale mode.

16 posted on 05/09/2026 8:55:23 PM PDT by TBP (Decent people cannot fathom the amoral cruelty of the Democrat cult.)
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To: ek_hornbeck

Clearly, you didn’t hear her today.


17 posted on 05/09/2026 8:55:47 PM PDT by TBP (Decent people cannot fathom the amoral cruelty of the Democrat cult.)
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

I have seen few things as disgusting, vile, and cruel as the people attacking her non stop about everything. Nasty nasty people who should feel ashamed. Just the first couple responses here. Disgusting.


18 posted on 05/09/2026 9:32:20 PM PDT by Organic Panic
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To: Organic Panic

The same vile morons on this forum who make these detestable comments about Erika are probably frauds and have no knowledge of Charlie, Erika, or even Turning Point USA. They hide behind self serving, snide comments because that is all they have in life. We should pray for them.


19 posted on 05/10/2026 1:25:49 AM PDT by centermass_socrates (Got to keep the loonies on the path.)
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