20 Minutes ago in Washington, Erika Kirk was confirmed as…See more1
Teens Revolt Over Erika Kirk’s Visit To Their High School
Erika is turning her attention to high school students after hardly anyone at a state university bothered to show up to her event.
Students at a Phoenix high school are revolting against a planned visit from right-wing personality Erika Kirk.
After a sparsely attended Turning Point USA campus event, Erika is now turning her attention to high schoolers, with a planned event at Pinnacle High School in north Phoenix next week.But she is already not being met with open arms by students and parents.
“I don’t know why she’s coming here, to be honest,” Francisco Sanchez, a senior at Pinnacle High School, told 12 News Phoenix. “I think the topics that she talks about are too extremist for a school. I think there are better representatives we can have.”
Erika pictured at Charlie's funeral, which was held in Arizona at the Arizona Cardinals stadium.Daniel Cole/REUTERS
“It’s a little crazy because I would never have expected someone like her to show up at a high school,” high school senior Kasandra Acosta told the outlet.
“I’m pretty shocked. Honestly, I’m surprised it’s even happening,” she added.
Parents of students enrolled at the school told The Arizona Republic they were concerned about security--especially after earlier this week, Erika, who became CEO of her late husband Charlie Kirk’s TPUSA organization after his September killing, skipped an event at the University of Georgia over safety concerns.
“It’s not just your average citizen coming over to speak to the club. She brings politics with her, she brings division with her, just because everybody in America is divided,” Bobbe Noland, a parent of a Pinnacle student, told the Republic.
Vance, the second in line to the presidency, still attended the event earlier this week, despite security concerns with Erika.Jonathan Ernst/REUTERS
School officials told parents this week that students would see an increased security presence on campus during the event, prompting some parents to also demand that the school move her visit to after-school hours.
Phoenix Police told 12 News that since Erika’s visit was a private event, the responsibility for securing it rests with the event organizers and must be coordinated with the school district.
“We regularly work with community partners to support public safety during gatherings. As with any event, our officers will continue to monitor activity, review available information, and adjust deployment strategies as needed to help ensure a safe environment for students, staff, and the surrounding community,” a police spokesperson said in a statement.
Her speaking appearance has been organized with the school’s Club America chapter, a TPUSA-affiliated organization. The right-wing nonprofit is headquartered in Phoenix, and she and Charlie lived in the nearby affluent suburb of Scottsdale for many years.
The Daily Beast reached out to TPUSA for comment on the controversy.
Students at Pinnacle High School are not too enthused by Erika's visit to campus next week.Daniel Cole/REUTERS
It’s not the first time she and her late husband stirred up controversy in Arizona’s public schools.
In 2021, Erika and Charlie raged against the Scottsdale Unified School District’s mask policy during the COVID-19 pandemic at a school board meeting. At the time, the couple did not have any children yet.
During the meeting, Charlie called the mask policy a “self-righteous measure” enacted to “abuse the children.”
“There is zero evidence to show that children are at a significant risk of catching or dying from the Chinese coronavirus,” he claimed, adding, “You have awoke a sleeping giant. I hope you enjoy your masked, short-term future here while it still lasts.”
The Kirks had welcomed their first child in August 2022, a year after they complained to a school board about its COVID policies.Samuel Corum/Getty Images
Erika, who grew up in Scottsdale but attended private Catholic school, went as far as to demand a moment of silence at the board meeting for “the kids who will end up committing suicide this upcoming school year in 2021 and 2022 because of your reckless and ego-centered leadership and lack thereof.”
“As Christians, we are told to pray for our leaders and that is what I will do every day,” she said. “May God have mercy on your souls for everything you guys are doing in this leadership position.”One Scottsdale parent called them out, pointing out that they didn’t even have children who were enrolled in the city’s public schools.
“While the agitators from outside our district would have you think that masks mandates are only in place at liberal public schools, the list of private and parochial schools also enacting mask mandates is far from short,” the parent said. “I applaud SUSD’s governing board.”
"""""""She threw wet trash at the servant's face. The servant dropped her to the floor.""""n
THE PINK DIAMOND
Opening
The slap of the wet napkin echoed through the grand ballroom louder than the orchestra.
For one impossible second, every violin stopped.
Every champagne flute froze halfway to someone's lips.
The stained linen slowly slid down the waitress's cheek, leaving behind a streak of wine, lipstick, and expensive perfume.
Laughter exploded.
Not because it was funny.
Because nobody wanted to be the first person to disagree with Victoria Ashford.
Victoria lived for moments like this.
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Or at least they pretended to.
She smiled as though humiliating another human being was simply part of the evening's entertainment.
"Take my trash, peasant."
Several guests chuckled.
Others looked away.
The young waitress remained perfectly still.
Her black uniform was spotless except for the stain running down her face.
She neither apologized nor reacted.
Instead...
She caught the falling napkin before it touched the marble floor.
That tiny movement made Victoria's smile disappear.
"You think you're brave?" Victoria asked.
The waitress quietly folded the dirty napkin once.
Then twice.
"I think you're making a mistake."
The sentence was calm.
Too calm.
Victoria stepped closer until only inches separated them.
"You work for people like me."
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The ballroom became silent.
Victoria's expression hardened.
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It flashed beneath the chandeliers.
One clean sweep.
Victoria's feet left the floor.
She landed flat on her back.
The sound echoed across the marble.
Gasps erupted from every direction.
Security reached for their radios.
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The waitress calmly placed the serving platter back onto a nearby table.
Then...
She removed her black velvet glove.
An enormous pink diamond ring sparkled beneath the crystal lights.
Every face in the ballroom changed.
Someone whispered,
"No..."
Another guest nearly dropped his drink.
"It can't be..."
The waitress looked down at Victoria.
"You've been insulting the wrong woman."
