New York Senate Resolution Pays Tribute to Charlie Kirk’s Life and Legacy

New York Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt has introduced a resolution honoring the life and legacy of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on September 10, 2025, while participating in a public debate at Utah Valley University. In announcing the resolution, Ortt shared a message on Instagram urging New Yorkers to join him in prayer for Kirk’s family and to recognize the larger truth his murder revealed: that America must be able to have open political debates and conversations without the threat of violence from those who disagree. His post was accompanied by the words of the resolution itself, which now stands as a formal act of mourning in the New York State Senate.

The resolution, numbered 2025-J1266, begins with a declaration of profound sorrow at the passing of Charles James “Charlie” Kirk, described as a distinguished citizen and advocate for peaceful civic engagement. It goes on to outline the trajectory of his life, one that was rooted in a sense of civic responsibility and a passion for American values. At the age of just nineteen, Kirk founded Turning Point USA, a movement that would grow into a national presence with more than 800 chapters on college campuses. The mission, as the resolution notes, was to educate and empower young Americans, giving them not just a place to learn about political ideas but a platform to engage in civil discourse with their peers.

The resolution emphasizes that under Kirk’s leadership, Turning Point USA became not only an organization but a force for young people eager to shape the political future of the country. The network he built allowed students to voice their perspectives, challenge one another, and ensure that all sides of the political spectrum had a chance to be heard. Kirk’s life, as recounted in the Senate’s words, was defined by his commitment to ensuring that free expression and respectful debate remained central to the American experiment.

Ortt’s resolution also points to Kirk’s personal courage. He was a man who did not shy away from traveling extensively, going directly into environments where disagreement was inevitable, yet choosing to engage rather than retreat. His willingness to speak to people across divides reflected his belief in the democratic process and the importance of hearing every voice, even when those conversations were uncomfortable. The Senate resolution makes clear that his death—struck down while engaged in public dialogue—stands as a stark reminder of both the risks and the nobility involved in choosing to participate openly in political life.

The resolution also reminds New Yorkers that Kirk’s life was not only about politics. He was a devoted husband and the father of two young children. He will be remembered, it says, for his mentorship of young leaders, for his belief in the power of ideas over violence, and for his dedication to peaceful civic engagement. Those who knew him personally recall not just his role as a national figure but also his personal warmth, the encouragement he gave to others, and his determination to strengthen the civic fabric of the country. His passing leaves behind a family in grief, friends in mourning, and a movement that must now carry forward his work.

Ortt’s act of introducing the resolution is more than symbolic. It reflects a bipartisan recognition, growing across state legislatures and the nation, that the civic space must be preserved. Violence cannot be allowed to silence voices, no matter how divisive or controversial those voices may be. At a time when anger and division so often define politics, the assassination of Charlie Kirk is forcing lawmakers, community leaders, and ordinary citizens to reflect on how fragile civil discourse has become. By putting the full weight of the Senate behind a resolution that both honors his life and condemns the violence that ended it, Ortt is reminding New Yorkers of the responsibility they all share to safeguard open conversation.

The language of the resolution concludes with a commitment to transmit a suitably engrossed copy to Kirk’s family, as an expression of sympathy and respect. Such gestures cannot erase the loss, but they serve as a reminder that the legacy of a man who believed in free speech and peaceful engagement will not be forgotten.

For Rob Ortt, the resolution is also a personal act of leadership. His words on Instagram captured what many across the nation are feeling: heartbreak at the loss of a husband, father, and advocate, combined with outrage that political violence has again claimed an American life. “We must be able to have open political debates and conversations without the threat of violence from those we disagree with,” Ortt wrote, speaking to a larger truth that transcends party lines.

In mourning Charlie Kirk, New York has added its voice to the chorus of leaders across the country condemning his assassination and urging Americans to turn away from hatred and toward dialogue. Kirk’s death is a tragedy, but his legacy—carried forward in the resolution and in the countless young people he inspired—remains a call to build a future where differences are settled not with violence but with words, ideas, and the enduring belief in the promise of America.