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By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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Charlie Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, described anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protests as "demonic" amid a wave of backlash against immigration enforcement.
Why It Matters
Protests have erupted across the nation after an ICE agent shot and killed Renée Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, in Minneapolis on January 7. Demonstrations calling for reform of ICE and federal immigration policies have since taken place in multiple cities. Community leaders, faith groups and unions are planning a statewide economic blackout on January 23 to demand ICE's withdrawal from Minnesota and accountability for recent enforcement actions.
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What To Know
Kirk made the remarks during her speech at the Make Heaven Crowded tour in Los Angeles on January 21, part of a faith-based tour organized by Turning Point USA Faith.
She referenced a recent media exchange between MSNBC's Rachel Maddow and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, in which they discussed the "3.5 Percent Rule"—the idea that nonviolent protest by a small fraction of the population can influence political change.
While acknowledging the concept's theoretical impact, Kirk said she did not believe the protests were helpful.
In her remarks, she referenced this perspective while also framing her view of the protests as harmful. In the discussion, she said, "I think it's demonic."
Charlie Kirk, a far-right podcaster and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on September 10, 2025, while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Authorities identified a suspect in the shooting and charged him with murder.
In January, Charlie Kirk's widow launched the Make Heaven Crowded tour, a nationwide faith-based revival series to honor his legacy. The tour began in Los Angeles and is scheduled to visit cities across the United States, featuring worship services, sermons and appearances by Christian speakers. Kirk has described the tour as a continuation of her husband's work and a forum for prayer and religious engagement following his death.
In St. Paul on January 18, protesters entered a service at Cities Church, where one of the pastors also serves as an ICE field official, chanting anti-ICE slogans and criticizing the agency's tactics after Good's killing. Federal authorities, including the FBI and Department of Justice, responded by arresting several demonstrators under laws prohibiting interference with religious worship and opened a civil rights investigation into the disruption.
A federal judge in Minnesota issued an injunction restricting the tactics ICE and other federal agents may use against peaceful protesters, barring the use of force such as tear gas or pepper spray against nonviolent demonstrators unless there is a specific threat of criminal activity. This ruling came in response to lawsuits filed by civil liberties groups in the wake of Good's death.
State investigators have said they were denied access to all evidence in the Minneapolis shooting, prompting city and local leaders to call for greater transparency and cooperation.
What People Are Saying
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey wrote on X on January 11: "Today is a good day for ICE to get out of Minnesota."
Chelsie Glaubitz Gabiou, the president of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, said in a news release: "Working people, our schools and our communities are under attack. Union members are being detained commuting to and from work, tearing apart families. Parents are being forced to stay home, students held out of school, fearing for their lives, all while the employer class remains silent. Our labor federations are encouraging everyone to participate on January 23. It's time for every single Minnesotan who loves this state and the notion of truth and freedom to raise their voices and deepen their solidarity for our neighbors and coworkers living under this federal occupation."
What Happens Next
Protests are expected to take place nationwide later on Friday.
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