More than 100 people opposed to the views espoused by the late Charlie Kirk’s organization Turning Point USA demonstrated outside the Redding Civic Auditorium on Saturday, February 7th while local branches of the conservative nonprofit hosted a free Faith Night.
The protesters, some who claimed to be Christian affiliates, said they were against Christian nationalism.
“We don’t mind religion at all. We’re for that,” said Kc Knox of Redding. “What I don’t like is that we have a hateful organization, Turning Point USA, here in Redding. We don’t want them here on any campus, corrupting young people with hateful and right-wing propaganda.”
Between 900 and 1,000 people attended the event inside the Civic. The program included a Gospel message and testimonies. Evan Jones, President of the Turning Point USA chapter at Simpson University, said on Thursday, February 5, the event is intended to “see our community here in Redding come together, and to see the spread of the Gospel.”
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An advocate for conservative politics on high school, college and university campuses, Turning Point USA “is not just a political organization,” said Jones, whose chapter is hosting the events with the organization’s offshoot, Turning Point USA Faith.
Protesters and supporters gather at the Redding Civic Auditorium for the Simpson University chapter of Turning Point USA’s ‘Faith Night’ event on February 7, 2026.
That branch of the organization “exists to unite the Church around primary doctrine and to eliminate wokeism from the American pulpit,” according to Turning Point USA Faith.
Protest co-coordinator Shasta Xposed said in a statement sent to Record Searchlight that the planners “chose to hold a peaceful protest because (they) believe that Turning Point USA does not represent Christianity as a faith rooted in compassion, humility and love of neighbor,” and the organization “has repeatedly used Christian language and symbolism to advance political messages and that many consider to be division as division.”
Protesters and supporters gather at the Redding Civic Auditorium for the Simpson University chapter of Turning Point USA’s ‘Faith Night’ event on February 7, 2026.
What is Turning Point USA’s connection to Redding and Charlie Kirk
There are at least five Turning Point USA chapters in Shasta County, Jones said; The Shasta College and Foothill High School chapters are helping with the event at the Civic.
Nonprofit Turning Point USA was co-founded by political activist Charlie Kirk, a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump.
Protesters and supporters gather at the Redding Civic Auditorium for the Simpson University chapter of Turning Point USA’s ‘Faith Night’ event on February 7, 2026.
“He was a very deep-rooted man of faith,” said Jones, who also said he admired Kirk as an evangelist.
Critics, including the Southern Poverty Law Center, have linked Kirk’s name to hard-right Christian nationalism.
Kirk was shot and killed on September 10, 2025, while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem.
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. It covers science, art, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica on Facebook groups Record Searchlight Get Out! Not even Cal, Today in Shasta County and Shaping Redding’s Future. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Redding protesters clash with Turning Point USA ‘Faith Night’