Erika Kirk event with Phoenix high school club members moved off campus

PHOENIX – Conservative activist Erika Kirk will speak at a Phoenix high school student club meeting next week, but it won’t be on campus during the school day, officials said.

Kirk, chair and CEO of Turning Point USA, was originally scheduled to address members of the Pinnacle High School chapter of Club America and their guests on April 24 during their lunch period.

Kirk has been leading Turning Point USA since Charlie Kirk, her husband and the Phoenix-based group’s co-founder, was killed during an appearance at a Utah college last year.

Pinnacle High School principal Jeremy Richards took the unusual step of sending parents and guardians a message on Tuesday to let them know about Erika Kirk’s visit and alert them to increased security measures that day.

Why did Phoenix principal notify community about Erika Kirk appearance?

He noted that he doesn’t typically notify the community about club speakers but did so in this case to be “proactive and transparent.”

“Pinnacle High School remains committed to fostering an environment where students can explore various perspectives while learning the responsibilities that come with active citizenship. Our priority is to ensure that every student feels safe and supported while on our campus,” Richards said in the message.

He also made it clear the student-led event was only open to active Club America members, who each could bring one fellow student as a guest.

“This event does not imply an official endorsement of the speaker by Pinnacle High School or the Paradise Valley Unified School District,” he wrote.

However, the announcement sparked concerns about how Kirk’s presence and the extra security would impact the learning environment. As a result, the event was moved to an off-campus location at a time after school is out for the day, Richards told parents and guardians in a follow-up message Thursday.

“Ms. Kirk’s team, in collaboration with Club America and school and district administration, recommended that the event be moved to an offsite location after the school day. As such, this event will now take place outside of the PVSchools district. Club members will be provided more information about the changes in time and location,” Richards wrote.

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