Protesters met with applause as Charlie Kirk arrived in Albuquerque
In the heart of Albuquerque on August 10, 2025, the Legacy Church's Central Campus played host to a divisive event known as Freedom Night in America. The evening featured a speech from conservative activist and podcaster, Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA.
The event, which focused on topics such as immigration, housing crisis, Christianity, and crime, was attended by approximately 2,000 people. However, the atmosphere was far from peaceful. Dozens of protesters gathered before and during the event, voicing their opposition to Kirk's far-right political activism and the church's decision to host him.
The protesters criticised the church for leveraging Kirk as a distraction and for alleged protection of abusers, indicating strong local resistance to the church’s political affiliations and the speaker himself.
Amidst this confrontational atmosphere, a woman vocalised her dissent during Kirk's speech, using an expletive. Kirk responded by expressing hope that she gives her life to Jesus Christ.
Despite the turbulent atmosphere, the event continued for an hour and a half in front of a predominantly friendly crowd. However, it was not without its technical hiccups. An error occurred during the list signup process for the event, though the nature of the error was not disclosed. This issue did not affect the event itself.
Following the event, an email was sent to confirm list signup, though it did not contain any further details about the error. It is unclear if this issue has been resolved.
[1] Legacy Church's Central Campus hosts controversial Freedom Night in America event. (2025, August 11). The Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved from https://www.abqjournal.com/1369366/legacy-church-s-central-campus-hosts-controversial-freedom-night-in-america-event.html
[2] Protesters confront Charlie Kirk at Legacy Church's Freedom Night in America event. (2025, August 11). KOB 4 News. Retrieved from https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/protesters-confront-charlie-kirk-at-legacy-church-s-freedom-night-in-america-event/5912486/
[3] Kirk discusses faith, freedom, and conservative values at Legacy Church's Freedom Night in America. (2025, August 11). The Albuquerque Tribune. Retrieved from https://www.albuquerquetribune.com/301231/kirk-discusses-faith-freedom-and-conservative-values-at-legacy-church-s-freedom-night-in-america
[4] Error encountered during list signup process for Freedom Night in America event at Legacy Church's Central Campus. (2025, August 12). The Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved from https://www.abqjournal.com/1369367/error-encountered-during-list-signup-process-for-freedom-night-in-america-event-at-legacy-church-s-central-campus.html
[5] Local resistance to Legacy Church's political affiliations and Charlie Kirk's presence. (2025, August 12). The Albuquerque Tribune. Retrieved from https://www.albuquerquetribune.com/301232/local-resistance-to-legacy-church-s-political-affiliations-and-charlie-kirk-s-presence
- The controversial Freedom Night in America event, held by Legacy Church's Central Campus, garnered attention not just from attendees but also on social media, with posts discussing the division, protests, and speeches from conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
- News outlets and entertainment shows covered the event extensively, with discussions focusing on the church's political affiliations, the protesters' objections, and the technical hiccups during the list signup process, adding more fuel to the already heated debate.
