Lake County Gazette

Jay Swidler, Chairman of Vernon Township Republicans, said that Charlie Kirk's assassination was a tragic attack on both his life and the free speech he passionately upheld. Swidler described it as a betrayal of the nation's foundational truths in a statement to Lake County Gazette.

"Charlie Kirk's violent death is a heartbreaking violation of the values he lived by and the message he worked to spread," said Swidler. "He believed in the strength of our nation's founding principles and fought daily for the right of all Americans to speak freely. Acts of political violence such as this endanger the future of our civil society. Mr. Kirk's mission has not been silenced in this tragedy, but it is our responsibility to continue its course."

According to WBEZ Chicago, on September 10, Charlie Kirk, 31, a prominent conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University. The event was part of his "American Comeback" tour. Cellphone footage captured Kirk collapsing after being shot in the neck, causing panic among the crowd. President Trump confirmed Kirk's death on Truth Social and ordered flags to be flown at half-staff. Kirk is survived by his wife Erika and two young children.

North Cook News reported that Kirk had deep connections to Illinois. He grew up in Prospect Heights, attended Wheeling High School, and launched his political career there by organizing student initiatives and speaking at local Tea Party events. He briefly attended Harper College before founding TPUSA from a garage in Lemont. The organization expanded nationally but maintained strong roots in Illinois with active chapters at several state universities. Kirk often returned to speak in Illinois and remained a key figure in shaping the state's conservative youth movement.

Swidler, a resident of Buffalo Grove, was first elected as Chairman of the Vernon Township Republicans in 2024. According to the organization's website, Swidler is focused on boosting Republican voter turnout, growing the Party’s membership, and communicating the Party’s positions on issues important to Vernon Township voters.