A bronze statue of conservative activist Charlie Kirk was unveiled in New York's Times Square on Wednesday, one year after his assassination, drawing both supporters and protesters to one of the world's most visited public spaces and sparking physical clashes between the two groups. The life-size sculpture was commissioned and funded entirely by Italian-born artist Sergio Furnari at a personal cost of $100,000.

Kirk, who was 31 at the time of his death, was shot on September 10, 2025, while speaking to students at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah — a moment captured on a live video stream of the event. He died from a gunshot wound to the neck at Timpanogos Regional Hospital. Tyler Robinson, 22, surrendered to authorities two days later after his parents persuaded him to turn himself in; he has since pleaded not guilty and faces a potential death sentence. Kirk had co-founded Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a prominent conservative youth organising network, and was a close ally of President Donald Trump.

The Times Square unveiling came as a separate memorial was held at Utah Valley University itself, where large security details were deployed and classes were cancelled to allow students and staff time for