Activist calls Charlie Kirk’s visit ‘not okay’ ahead of Visalia pro-life fundraiser

VISALIA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A national conservative speaker is making his way to Visalia to speak at the Tulare-Kings Resource for Life’s yearly fundraiser, but an activist in the city has raised concerns over some of the speaker’s comments on race, gender and abortion.

Organizers at Tulare-Kings Resource for Life say the pro-life nonprofit works to “preserve life” through education.

TKRL Board President Sue Jackson says the organization started over 30 years ago, when a group of women in the Central Valley started writing letters to their elected officials to voice their pro-life beliefs.

“They had a view and they wanted it to be known,” Jackson said. “They wanted to support life from conception on.”

TKRL Director Ann Marie Paden says they’ve grown exponentially, and now, they also provide counseling services and assistance for couples working through fertility issues throughout Tulare and Kings counties.

“I don’t see anybody else doing what we’re doing,” Paden said. “We offer resources that are very unique to help women of all ages.”

TKRL also offers mental health services for men who are dealing with the loss of a child during a miscarriage. But to provide services and events that help parents and potential parents, Paden says fundraising is critical and integral.

“As a nonprofit, we have to raise funds,” Paden said. “We invite a big-name speaker to come out and the goal of this event is always to educate the community on what we’re offering here.”

The “Advancing the Mission” series is the TKRL’s biggest fundraising event. It’s scheduled to take place on Sept. 2 at Visalia First Assembly Church. Previous keynote speakers at the event have included Kirk Cameron, Larry Elder and Senator Rick Santorum.

This year’s speaker is Charlie Kirk, a conservative internet personality who’s known for his debates on college campuses.

Independent Activist Yocelyn says when she learned Kirk was coming to Visalia to speak at TKRL’s event, she immediately raised concerns.

“It’s not okay to have someone like that here,” Yocelyn said. She says Kirk’s views on gender roles, race and even the 2021 election are problematic and ultimately distract from the work the TKRL does.

“Juneteenth is a national holiday… Charlie Kirk is so rooted in his own disdain for other people that he doesn’t even want a free day off,” Yocelyn said.

Yocelyn points to Kirk’s comments on women in higher learning environments as particularly upsetting.

“In the crowd [of female graduates], he told them that their biggest purpose in life is to be a mother and a wife,” Yocelyn said. “[That] is a really big spit in the face for so many women. Especially women who are trying to get educated and break out of the cycles of gender and social norms.”

Yocelyn says the TKRL should not look to Kirk as a quality representative of the pro-life movement. She says his support of Trump’s fiscal policy reflects someone who does not care about preserving life.

“He also advocates for no free school lunch, which leads to children not living that fruitful life at school,” Yocelyn said. “One of the many reasons why people do actually get abortions is they themselves cannot provide everything that a child needs.”

Paden says she doesn’t believe Kirk is sexist or hypocritical and says his willingness to be the keynote speaker at the “Advancing the Mission” series is actually evidence.

“We are all for women; we offer resources very unique to help women of all ages,” Paden said. “So I believe if he were [sexist], he wouldn’t want to be a part of it. I also believe that he’s a very good influence on some of the youth.”

Yocelyn says, regardless of their opposing views, she’s adamant about ensuring the protest at Visalia First is peaceful, to keep communication among Visalians honest, open and fruitful.

“We have to make sure that it stays peaceful and especially respectful, because as protests come and go, there will be one side protesting and there will be a counter side to the people protesting,” Yocelyn said. “We need to be prepared for when they decide to have the conversations.”

The protest is set to take place outside Visalia First Assembly on Sept. 2, at 5:30 p.m., the same day as Kirk’s scheduled appearance and the same time that doors open for the event.