Turning Point USA — Casper College chapter kicks off first meeting on the heels of Kirk killing

CASPER — More than 100 people filed into the small sanctuary at the old College Heights Baptist Church in Casper—the pews were filled with Casper College students, residents and families on Tuesday night. 

It was the first meeting of Turning Point USA Casper College Chapter, a gathering organizers say was postponed in light of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk’s assassination Sept. 10. 

The inaugural meeting of the local chapter was originally scheduled for Sept. 11. 

Turning Point USA is a college organization, but this first meeting was open to the public. Moving forward, the meetings will be for members only. 

Any Casper College or BOCES student can be a member of the Casper College chapter. 

Turning Point USA is a conservative organization that has more than 800 college chapters across the country. It promotes freedom, pro-capitalism beliefs and limited government oversight.

The journey to creating the local chapter preceded the organization’s latest influx of support following Kirk’s death. 

President and co-founder Clarabelle Ramsey said organizers began looking into starting the chapter about five weeks ago when she was approached by the chapter’s now-vice president, Mya Hager. 

Tuesday’s meeting served as an introduction of the group to the community and potential members. The officers of the chapter laid out what they stood for and how members could participate. 

Ramsey told the Star-Tribune the club’s mission is to “spread conservative ideology and to get rid of this [sic] leftist ideas.” 

She noted while regular meetings are for members only, the chapter would be hosting some open events with guest speakers. The first event it is hosting after the meeting is a candlelight vigil for Kirk on Wednesday at Washington Park. 

The chapter also had a tribute to Kirk Tuesday. 

There was a picture of Kirk set up outside of the meeting, and Ramsey read a tribute speech to him. 

Kirk actually has ties to Wyoming. Jackson residents Foster and Lynn Friess were early supporters for Kirk and Turning Point USA. Lynn Friess donated $1 million after Kirk’s death to support new college chapters of Turning Point USA, noting in doing so her late husband’s support of Kirk and his organization. 

“Foster always believed in Charlie’s vision and often said that helping Charlie build TPUSA was the best investment he ever made,” Lynn Friess wrote in a post to X. “I know he would be grateful to see how Charlie’s legacy is inspiring young Americans to stand up for faith and freedom.” 

The University of Wyoming also has a Turning Point USA chapter. There are also a few high school chapters in the state, according to the map on Turning Point USA’s website.

This story was published on Sept. 18, 2025.