Below, WUFT-FM's Sofia Dinka produced this report from the event:
Charlie Kirk visits UF
Photo gallery: Charlie Kirk speaks at UF's Plaza of the Americas
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Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA throws “Make America Great Again” hats to a crowd of excited students at the Plaza of the Americas on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Sydney Johnson/ WUFT News)
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A crowd gathers to listen to Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, at the Plaza of the Americas on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Sydney Johnson/WUFT News)
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Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, throws hats to a crowd of excited students at the Plaza of the Americas on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Sydney Johnson/ WUFT News)
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A Turning Point USA student volunteer holds hats supporting President Donald Trump. The hats were handed out to crowd members by Charlie Kirk and members of the conservative nonprofit organization’s UF chapter at the Plaza of the Americas on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Sydney Johnson/WUFT News)
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Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, speaks to a crowd of excited spectators at the Plaza of the Americas on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Sydney Johnson/WUFT News)
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Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, debates an audience member about the existence of white privilege at the Plaza of the Americas on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Sydney Johnson/ WUFT News)
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A woman uses a man for support as she stands on a pole in the Plaza of the Americas to see and listen to Turning Point USA CEO Charlie Kirk on UF’s campus in Gainesville, Fla., on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Ella Thompson/WUFT News)
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Maggie MacDonald holds two signs near Turning Point USA CEO Charlie Kirk’s debate with UF students in the Plaza of the Americas on UF’s campus in Gainesville, Fla., on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. MacDonald also debated students who came up to her. (Ella Thompson/WUFT News)
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Pins sit on a table under Turning Point USA’s tents in the Plaza of the Americas on UF’s campus in Gainesville, Fla., on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. Some of the pins read “Socialism sucks,” “Capitalism conserves,” and “Dear IRS, stop stealing.” (Ella Thompson/WUFT News)
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Turning Point USA CEO Charlie Kirk smiles as he greets crowd members following the end of his debate event in the Plaza of the Americas on UF’s campus in Gainesville, Fla., on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Ella Thompson/WUFT News)
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Turning Point USA CEO Charlie Kirk smiles in a selfie with crowd members following the end of his debate event in the Plaza of the Americas on UF’s campus in Gainesville, Fla., on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Ella Thompson/WUFT News)