Charlie Kirk's name is mentioned on the Southern Poverty Law Center's website in 38 posts. His image is plastered all over stories that describe Christian values and the rule of law as hateful. In a report entitled "The Year in Hate and Extremism 2024," Kirk's name appears 18 times.
In a post one day before Kirk was shot and killed, he was mentioned in the Montgomery-based organization's "Hatewatch" newsletter, which boasts, "The Southern Poverty Law Center works to dismantle white supremacy in public forums and online, exposes hate and anti-democracy extremism, and counters disinformation and conspiracy theories with research and community resources. The Intelligence Project monitors and exposes white supremacy and its impact on communities."
A report released in May 2025 titled "The Year in Hate and Extremism 2024" includes a section called "Turning Point USA: A case study of the hard right in 2024." The report, which is part of the "Dismantling White Supremacy" series, targets Kirk and TPUSA. The preface describes, "Equipped with comprehensive data and research, the SPLC's preeminent Year in Hate and Extremism report once again provides a clear analysis of the groups upholding white supremacy in the United States: who they are, where they are, and the tactics and strategies they're using. This report also covers the anti-democracy trends to monitor on the ground in communities and the formulas for prevention that can shape our collective future."
Of the groups and people included in their report, "Their power comes from the use of force, the capture of political parties and government, and infesting the mainstream discourse with conspiracy theories. We hope this report not only exposes the responsible parties and people but helps reverse the momentum of the hard right by empowering our readers and inspiring you to action. When the problem is overwhelming, it can seem like there's no clear path forward. But by breaking down the players, tactics and code words, our own strategy can emerge."
The group accused Kirk and TPUSA of having an "authoritarian vision for the country that threatens the foundation of our democracy."
In July, SPLC targeted Kirk and women on the right who attended and spoke at TPUSA's 10th annual Young Women's Leadership Summit. In a Hatewatch post, the group criticized traditional gender roles and Biblical definitions of family, claiming that the event's presenters "dressed this fundamentalism up in bows and pastels and other hallmarks of hyperfemininity to mainstream the hate and conspiracy theories that make up its vision for America's future."
Speaking to Turning Point events, they said, "These events regularly platform xenophobic, racist, sexist, homophobic and other hateful views."
Hours after Kirk's assassination, following years of telling their supporters what a threat to the world he was, the group posted, "Violence is never the answer. We condemn the shooting of Charlie Kirk and all violence in any form. Our history shows violence only fuels division — justice requires peace."
Cited in the report as an example of Kirk's "Hate and Extremism," the SPLC stated, "At a Trump rally in Georgia, Kirk told attendees, 'I believe there is a spiritual battle happening all around us. … Right now, this state is a Christian state, I want to see that to continue. But we need the faithful, we need those of you that have influence over your congregation to put pressure on your pastors.' He also directed pastors to give sermons dedicated to preaching that "the Democratic Party believes everything that God hates."
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