ARIZONA —

A statue commemorating late conservative activist Charlie Kirk was vandalized with purple paint over the weekend, simply days after its unveiling exterior Turning Level USA headquarters in Phoenix.

“It was horrifying,” mentioned Tyler Bowyer, chief working officer of Turning Level USA.

The statue, unveiled Thursday, was discovered Sunday morning with purple paint overlaying its face, neck, and hand. Bowyer mentioned the paint seemed to be supposed to resemble blood and was additionally sprayed on an indication on the base of the memorial.

“It was clear that vandals got here right here, spray-painted what seemed like blood, was supposed to appear to be blood, each on the signal proper there after which on the statue,” Bowyer mentioned.

The incident occurred one 12 months after Kirk was shot and killed in Utah. The statue was unveiled exterior the headquarters of Turning Level USA, the group Kirk based.

An indication that had been sitting on the base of the memorial since final September was additionally discovered lined in purple paint Sunday morning.

“We’re shocked by it. I feel it is stunning and jarring any time that you simply see one thing like this,” Bowyer mentioned.

Bowyer defined that the statue was meant to rejoice Kirk’s life and mentioned the act of vandalism wouldn’t change that.

“Our group has to step up and stand boldly within the face of political violence, violence typically, and I feel that that is the message right here right now,” Bowyer mentioned.

Supporters of Kirk visited the positioning to pay their respects regardless of the vandalism.

“Whether or not it was vandalized or not, we’re nonetheless going to come back and take a look at it,” one customer mentioned.

Many expressed disappointment over the act, together with customer Greg Matsen.

“Even should you disagree with issues that he believed in, it is onerous to think about coming in and mocking one thing so horrific,” Matsen mentioned.

Kirk’s widow, Erika, condemned the vandalism in a publish on X, saying partly: “They thought a bullet would silence my husband’s voice, however it solely made it louder. They suppose spray paint can obscure his legacy, however it would solely unfold it additional. Each try to tear down what Charlie constructed makes us root deeper and work even tougher.”

Bowyer mentioned the group labored shortly to wash the statue and restore it for guests.

“After they come right here, our hope is that they will be impressed, and that is the hope with the statues as we bear in mind Charlie and his life, that they will stroll away impressed,” Bowyer mentioned.