A campus event at the University of California, Berkeley, marking the anniversary of the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has drawn federal scrutiny and sparked debate over the limits of free speech on college campuses. The gathering, referred to by participants as a “Kirkversary” event, took place last Thursday evening on one of Berkeley’s main lawns and attracted a sizable crowd.
Charlie Kirk, co-founder of the conservative group Turning Point USA, was fatally shot on September 10, 2025, while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Tyler James Robinson, 23, of Washington, Utah, has been charged with the murder and has pleaded not guilty. Since Kirk’s death, internet memes featuring his likeness have circulated widely, both praising and criticizing his views on issues including guns, gender, and race.
The Berkeley event drew attention not only for its content but also because a senior State Department official publicly warned that international students participating in such celebrations could jeopardize their U.S. visas. Christopher Landau, the department’s deputy secretary of state, responded to social media posts showing the event by emphasizing that a U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right, and that foreigners applauding acts of political assassination are not welcome guests in the country. Landau’s comments echoed a previous State Department statement that over 175,000 visas had been revoked under the Trump administration, including from foreign nationals who were said to have celebrated Kirk’s assassination.
It remains unclear whether any visa-holding students were present at the Berkeley gathering. Eyewitness accounts describe participants singing and cheering, with some displaying humorous or mocking imagery incorporating Kirk’s face, such as a modified Mona Lisa portrait. The university’s student newspaper reported the event as an extension of online meme culture surrounding Kirk’s death, often rooted in left-leaning critique.
One student who observed the gathering, freshman Emily Salib of Virginia Beach, Virginia, expressed mixed feelings. Although she opposes Kirk’s conservative views and found the lighthearted tone of the event jarring in light of his murder, she voiced concern about threats of deportation tied to political expression. “Peaceful protest is at the core of American democracy,” Salib said, describing the idea of visa revocation for such acts as “pretty terrifying.”
Earlier on the same day, Berkeley’s Turning Point USA chapter hosted a separate event honoring Kirk’s life and death. The university issued a statement affirming its commitment to free speech and acknowledged awareness of these campus activities but reported no formal complaints or police involvement. Officials indicated they were continuing to investigate the matter.
Berkeley’s reputation as a hub of liberal activism has long made it a focal point for conservative criticism and federal investigations. Last year, the Justice Department launched an inquiry following protests at a Turning Point USA event on campus, though no public findings have been released. Additionally, the university has faced allegations from the Justice Department over admissions policies and investigations by other federal agencies, including the Education Department and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Funding cuts affecting Berkeley researchers have also been linked to government actions in recent months.
The controversy surrounding the “Kirkversary” event underscores ongoing tensions between free expression and political sensitivity at American universities, as well as the federal government’s growing role in monitoring how international students engage in political discourse on campus.