Charlie Kirk inspired young conservatives all over the country, including here in Clark County

Ruby Ruiz, representative for the Southwest Washington Chapter of Turning Point USA, said she met Charlie Kirk several times. He cared about all of the people on the TPUSA staff as well as all of the young Americans he met during his tours, Ruiz said. Photo courtesy Ruby Ruiz — Ruby Ruiz, Evergreen field representative for Turning Point USA, said she met Charlie Kirk several times. He cared about all of the people on the TPUSA staff as well as all of the young Americans he met during his tours, Ruiz said. Photo courtesy Ruby Ruiz

Ruby Ruiz joined the movement as a high school student and now she is field representative for Turning Point USA, and while the organization is mourning the death of its founder, young conservatives are vowing to carry on Kirk’s mission

Paul Valencia
Clark County Today

The leader of their organization was murdered, but the young conservatives associated with Turning Point USA are committed to carrying on with his mission.

That includes those in the Clark County chapter of Turning Point USA.

Ruby Ruiz has been part of the Turning Point USA movement since her high school days and has worked for the organization for more than a year now as the representative of the Southwest Washington chapter. Photo by Paul Valencia

“The movement should continue. We should continue the fight. We can’t let him die for nothing,” said Ruby Ruiz, the Evergreen field representative. “We have to continue to stand up like he did.”

Ruiz met Charlie Kirk through the years. Ruiz was part of Turning Point USA in high school, then started working for the organization a little more than a year ago.

She and her colleagues are devastated by Kirk’s murder on the campus of Utah Valley University on Wednesday.

Kirk’s cause will continue, Ruiz vowed.

Ruiz also wanted to make it clear that when she said she will continue to fight, she meant with words. Just like Turning Point’s founder.

“We can’t be out there on the streets, getting into fights, and calling people names. We need to be fighting with truth and love and standing up like he did,” Ruiz said. “He didn’t fight with his fists. He didn’t call people names. He spoke the truth and about love. He fought for us, and it’s time we fight for him.”

There is a vigil on Friday at the Firmly Planted Homeschool Resource Center. Ruby Ruiz, chapter representative for Turning Point USA, is one of the hosts of the vigil.

The Clark County Activism Hub is planning a vigil at 7 p.m. Friday at Firmly Planted Family Home School Resource Center in east Vancouver. Ruiz and the TPUSA hosted Stephen Davis of Turning Point USA fame there earlier this year.

In the past year, Ruiz has been a fixture at Clark County political rallies, promoting the organization. She met Kirk several times while training and at Turning Point events. Ruiz and several young conservatives from the Northwest traveled to Florida earlier this summer to hear Kirk speak.

“When you meet him in person … he pays attention and he remembers your name,” Ruiz said. “He took the time. He cares about all of his students, all of his staff, all over the nation. He gave us words of encouragement.”

Ruiz said Turning Point USA has been a driving force in her life.

“I could always count on Charlie to do the right thing. Working for the movement has been an absolute blessing,” she said. “It’s an honor to continue to work for the movement and this organization.”

Late Wednesday, Ruiz posted a tribute to Kirk on her Facebook page.

“Words cannot express the loss that everyone feels. Erika lost a husband, his babies lost a father, TPUSA lost a leader, the nation lost an icon and hero, and the world lost a visionary. We mourn this loss of a great man. Hope lies in the fact that God gained another son in Heaven,” she wrote.

Ruiz also shared photos of her and Kirk.

“We must mourn him, but we shall never forget the man that changed the nation and started the largest student movement in the country. He shifted the culture, and we must continue that in his legacy.”

Turning Point USA dedicated a post to Kirk’s memory on its homepage. “All of us have lost a leader, a mentor, and a friend,” the post read.

“Charlie was no stranger to threats,” the message continued. “He received thousands of threats throughout his life. But he always prioritized reaching as many young Americans as possible over his own personal safety. Now, Charlie has become America’s greatest martyr to the freedom of speech he so adored.”

The message concluded: “Although Charlie is gone, his legacy will endure. He shall not grow old, age shall not weary him. For all time, he will remain the brave young man who inspired tens of millions of Americans to better themselves and take action to better America. All of us will miss Charlie. None of us will ever forget him.”