The streets outside Harvest Church Riverside were filled with passionate chants and signs as protesters rallied against Turning Point USA’s “Make Heaven Crowded Tour” on Wednesday evening.
Dozens expressed opposition to the organization’s conservative political message at the event gathering that marked the start of Turning Point USA’s 2026 tour, led by CEO Erika Kirk. She is the widow of the late activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated in September during a public event in Utah.
The tour is slated to visit more than 30 cities across the country, kicking off in Riverside and culminating in Phoenix, Arizona, on Dec. 19.
According to TPUSA, the Gospel-centered tour events invite attendees to engage in “a powerful night of worship, preaching and ministry.”
Pastors Greg Laurie and Lucas Miles have joined Kirk for the tour, which bears an air of a traditional religious revival for event attendees. Additional speakers at the event were Angela Halili, Arielle Reitsma and Bryce Crawford.
The kickoff event, however, was not free from controversy. In addition to the protests outside the church, during her speech Kirk, 37, labeled recent demonstrations nationwide against the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration as “demonic.”
Her remark referenced a recent interview with Jimmy Kimmel in which liberal news commentator Rachel Maddow discussed with the late-night talk show host the potential positive impact of peaceful protests. Kirk emphasized her belief in spiritual harm associated with such demonstrations.
“I can’t even believe I’m saying their names in a church,” Kirk joked.
“Personally, I do not think they’re helping,” she said of the protests. “I think it’s demonic, but I understood the sentiment of what she said.”
Maddow brought up the “3.5% rule,” which is the notion that if only 3.5% of people consistently protest peacefully, they can cause effective political change.
Kirk shifted the 3.5% concept to reflect her late husband’s point of view. She noted the memorial service for Charlie Kirk, which turned State Farm Stadium in Arizona into a gathering of as many as 100,000 attendees and surpassed 100 million online streams, Turning Point USA reported.
Kirk elaborated that the memorial service showcased the vast potential when a small but faithful group rises for Christ and the church.
“It did not matter if you were Baptist, Pentecostal, Catholic — it didn’t matter,” she said. “You were all there under the banner of Christ.”
On the Thursday, the tour made another SoCal stop in San Diego, with Miles, Riley Gaines, Jurgen Matthesius, Ross Johnston and Elijah Lamb.
Protesters in Riverside criticized TPUSA’s conservative platform and chanted against ICE and Trump.
“Her message is a singular message, it is the Christian Right,” protester Elizabeth Velarde told CBS News. “It is supporting MAGA, it is the ridiculous pageantry of Charlie Kirk’s death.”
Protester Adam Troya said TPUSA “is trying to bring us back to a generation that we fought so hard to overcome.”
Inside the church during the event, Kirk’s remarks also included reflection on how her faith helped her through the tragedy of her husband’s murder.
“This world, you might feel as if it is going to break you, but Jesus already broke himself for this,” she said, appearing to hold back tears.
“The way that God has carried me is the way that He wants to carry you,” Kirk told event attendees. “Through your trial, through your life, my cross is mine to carry, you have your own.”
More information about the tour and upcoming tour stops is available on its its webpage.
Illegal immigration enforcement operations have been ongoing in Southern California and throughout the U.S. since last spring, drawing lots of local opposition from elected officials and the public.
