GRAND FORKS — Thousands packed the Chester Fritz Performing Arts Center in Grand Forks on Thursday evening to honor Charlie Kirk and Turning Point USA during a stop on the This is the Turning Point tour.
The headline speaker was Glenn Beck, founder of The Blaze.
By two hours before the event, supporters and event attendees wrapped around the outside of the 2,300-seat auditorium. Many of them were clad in red and white hats, some adorned with the numbers 45 and 47, or simply 45 — signifying the 45th and 47th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump. The first attendees were in line several hours before the doors even opened.
As the event drew closer, attendees were allowed inside the facility 90 minutes prior to the start. When they entered the facility, they were treated to music that much felt like the biggest rally North Dakota has seen.
Before Beck took the stage, the crowd heard from Anthony Bettle, President of the Turning Point USA chapter at the University of North Dakota.
“Our chapter here at the University of North Dakota has been absolutely blown away by the response from the community for this event,” he said.
Jobob Taeleifi, better known just as Jobob, the host of Turning Point Tonight on Real America’s Voice – and a comedian – took the stage. Taeleifi took the attendees inside his life working with Kirk and the Turning Point USA team. Thursday night’s tour event was the first for Taeleifi after Kirk’s passing.
“It just sucks,” Taeleifi said of opening shows without Kirk present. “But you know what each and every one of the Turning Point (USA) staff told me? ‘Yeah it does, but look around.’”
That set the stage for Beck, who took the stage to a loud applause and cheers from the crowd – in addition to a standing ovation.
“I hope I have something of value to share with you,” Beck said as he opened his chat – one that lasted well over 90 minutes on a Thursday night.
“I have a new mantra lately,” he ended. “For Christ. For country.”
UND officials estimated the crowd at 2,000 people.
