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Phoenix police investigate vandalism of Charlie Kirk statue

By Drooid · Sep 15, 2026, 4:35 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Vandals Deface Statue

Vandals spray-painted red paint on the eight-foot bronze statue of Charlie Kirk at Turning Point USA’s Phoenix headquarters.
The defacement also crossed out “Jesus” on the memorial sign and added the word “Satan.”
Phoenix police responded at 8:09 a.m. on Sept. 13, opened an investigation and have made no arrests.
Turning Point USA called the act “diabolical,” pledged to restore the statue, replace signs, and review surveillance footage.

Summary

Turning Point Opens Tipline

Erika Kirk became CEO of Turning Point USA after her husband’s death.
Turning Point USA opened the Silent Witness tip line, 480-WITNESS, to identify vandals.
The group will release surveillance video of the vandalism after completing its review.
TPUSA said the statue will be cleaned and restored within days, urging supporters to stay resilient.

History

Historical Context

After a high-schooler’s 2016 petition spurred the Charlottesville City Council’s 3-2 vote on February 6 2017 to sell and rename the Robert E. Lee statue, white-nationalist groups staged the August 2017 Unite the Right rally that killed Heather Heyer and intensified removal demands. Mayor Michael Signer later approved the statue’s dismantling, while the NAACP reported extensive counter-protest activity.

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Vandals Deface Statue

Vandals spray-painted red paint on the eight-foot bronze statue of Charlie Kirk at Turning Point USA’s Phoenix headquarters.
The defacement also crossed out “Jesus” on the memorial sign and added the word “Satan.”
Phoenix police responded at 8:09 a.m. on Sept. 13, opened an investigation and have made no arrests.
Turning Point USA called the act “diabolical,” pledged to restore the statue, replace signs, and review surveillance footage.

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