At the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Turning Point USA hosted an event this week featuring conservative commentator Michael Knowles. But instead of focusing on the value of open dialogue on campus, Minneapolis Councilwoman Robin Wonsley used the occasion to accuse TPUSA of being tied to “hate-filled ideology and extremism.”
Wonsley, an independent socialist, blasted the university for allowing the event to move forward, claiming, “Hate has no place in Minneapolis, and I am deeply frustrated that the University of Minnesota has attempted to normalize a group that is tied to hate-filled ideology and extremism.” She went further, accusing the university of “risking people’s safety” by giving a platform to TPUSA while pointing to other cases where students and faculty faced penalties for protesting in support of Palestine.
Her statement made clear that she believed the university’s decision was hypocritical, saying that TPUSA had “targeted many groups our neighbors belong to, such as Somalis, LGBTQ+ people, and immigrants.”
Wonsley even tied her frustration to the recent assassination of TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk on September 10, noting that she and others were “surprised that this event was still being put on” in the wake of his death. She claimed the event “stirred deep anxiety among many Ward 2 residents” and alleged that there is “widespread documentation of the hate speech Charlie Kirk and Turning Point espoused.”
Yet what Wonsley labels “hate” is what many Americans recognize as unapologetic conservative values: support for free speech, defense of traditional culture, and a willingness to challenge left-wing orthodoxies. Her attempt to paint conservative students and speakers as dangerous echoes a broader trend—one where socialist politicians and activist faculty work to silence voices they disagree with, all under the guise of “safety.”
Meanwhile, the resilience of TPUSA’s mission is clear. Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow, vowed that her husband’s work would not only continue, but expand. “AmericaFest here in Phoenix this December will go on,” she stated. “It will be greater than ever. The radio and podcast show that he was so proud of will go on. And in a world filled with chaos, doubt, and uncertainty, my husband’s voice will remain. And it will ring out louder and more clearly than ever. And his wisdom will endure.”
The contrast is striking. On one side, politicians like Wonsley seek to shame universities into silencing conservatives. On the other, a growing movement of young Americans is determined to carry forward Charlie Kirk’s vision—proving that despite hostility from the left, the fight for free speech and common-sense values on America’s campuses is far from over.
For someone who claims hate has no place there she is sure filled with hate towards anyone or group who doesn’t follow her ideas.
I’ve noticed that is true – the real hate is coming from the radical left. Conservatives want dialog and a chance to disagree without being disagreeable. The violence and hatred are coming only from the left.
One has to wonder if her ward is filled with a certain ethnic group? Minneapolis is a growing community of Muslims and they’re trying to install a Muslim mayor. Bringing strength and power to the people is something they don’t want to see.