The Simpson University chapter of Turning Point USA, a conservative group co-founded by the late Charlie Kirk, is holding a February event in Redding that is expected to draw supporters and critics of the national organization.
Turning Point USA said on social media that its free Faith Night will be the first official gathering for its newly-formed chapter operating on the Simpson campus and the public is invited to attend on Feb. 7 starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Redding Civic Auditorium.
According to the group’s flier, speakers will include Tom Crandall, overseer of evangelism and outreach at the Bethel Church megachurch in Redding and Evan Jones, a Simpson University business student who is president of Turning Point USA’s chapter there. Also speaking will be Dr. Daniel Sloan, a professor of business and department chair at Simpson University who serves as the chapter’s faculty adviser.
The group said the event kicks off “a series of upcoming gatherings aimed at fostering conservative principles, faith, and civic engagement among students and the broader Redding community.” The evening is to include worship, testimony, an invocation and a gospel message.
According to its website, Turning Point USA is a nonprofit with a mission to “identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote the principles of fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government.”
The group seeks to organize and mobilize young conservatives on college campuses, Turning Point USA’s website said.
Turning Point USA in Redding
Kirk served as Turning Point USA’s executive director from 2012 until he was shot and killed in September 2025 while speaking at Utah Valley University. The alleged shooter, Tyler James Robinson, 22, faces charges of aggravated murder and other felonies.
In addition to being a popular conservative political activist and media personality, Kirk was a close and visible ally of President Donald Trump and spoke at the president’s inauguration rally in January 2025.
In his various addresses over the years, according to the New York Times, Turning Point USA’s Kirk had been critical of gay and transgender rights, made a social media post during the New York mayor’s race that drew accusations of Islamophobia and called the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 a “mistake” and destructive force in American politics.
In Redding, the Turning Point group’s upcoming event is sparking controversy.
A flier posted by opponents that is circulating on local social media says that “Turning Point is not welcome here. No hate! Redding stands for democracy, inclusion and truth. Hate-based extremism has no home here.”
Kim Ressa, one of the protest organizers, said Turning Point USA could have held their event on the Simpson University campus, “not in a city-owned building that our tax dollars pay for.”In her email, Ressa continued, “we also understand the First Amendment and they have the right to hold their event. However, this is not an event we want in our town. This is not Christian values at all, it’s hate and right-wing propagandists (and) we have the right to peacefully protest it.”
Reached by phone on Thursday evening, Jones said that a Turning Point USA chapter also operates at Shasta College and that students are interested in starting chapters at several Redding-area high schools. The group’s existing chapters are planning more events for the future, Jones said.
He said next month’s gathering is planned to be like a church service, “to hear the word of God.”
Jones added that “Everyone has the right to protest, I’m not against them protesting at all. I asked people just to, you know, be relaxed and respectful and kind, especially with the families that are going to be showing up.”
“Them saying that we are hateful is just wrong,” said Jones. “It’s pretty far from hateful. We welcome everybody, literally everybody. I’ve had conversations with people that are completely different from me in every single aspect and … they’re friends. There’s no hate that is coming out of my chapter or any of the surrounding chapters.”
Julie Dyar, general manager of Advance Redding, the non-profit organization that manages the city-owned Redding Civic Auditorium, said via email on Friday that “As a publicly owned venue, the local chapter of Turning Point USA has the right to host events in the venue provided they follow standard booking procedures and guidelines, which they did.”
Dyar added that “We respect and are committed to upholding the First Amendment rights for all residents and groups. We also fully support the right of community members to peacefully protest and voice opposition. Our priority will be on a safe and orderly event for everyone involved.”
Groups backing the protest scheduled to occur at the Redding Civic Auditorium from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Feb. 7 include Redding Resistance, Shasta County Democratic Action Club and shastaexposed.com, according to the information flier.
In a post on their Facebook page on Jan. 21, Shasta Xposed said: “We are very aware of our rights — including our civil rights — and we are equally aware that the law is on our side. Peaceful protest on lawful public property is protected under both California law and the Constitution.”
This story has been updated with new information.
Michele Chandler covers dining, food, public safety and whatever else comes up for the Redding Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. Accepts story tips at 530-338-7753 and at mrchandler@gannett.com. Please support our entire newsroom’s commitment to public service journalism by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA group to gather in Redding
Reporting by Michele Chandler, Redding Record Searchlight / Redding Record Searchlight
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