Members of the UT community gathered Thursday at the West Mall to remember the life of Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative figure and co-founder of Turning Point USA.
More than 75 individuals, many from across the state, attended the vigil hosted by the UT chapter of Turning Point USA.
A gunman shot and killed Kirk on Wednesday while Kirk spoke at Utah Valley University, according to an FBI report. Kirk was speaking in front of an audience at his first stop of his “The American Comeback” college tour, where he would debate attendees on politics. At the time of publication the suspect is in custody, according to a Utah County Sheriff’s Office news release.
“In America, no one should have to die for sharing their opinion,” UT’s chapter of the organization wrote in a statement Thursday. “Let this moment strengthen our resolve to protect the freedoms he fought for. Let us all stand against all forms of political violence.”
Students held candles in mourning and brought signs, one saying, ‘I am the pro-life generation.’ The vigil opened with prayers and bible verses from TPUSA members. Gavin Webster, the chapter’s campus director, shared his condolences for Kirk and rallied attendees to not let his death be in vain.
“If I was to summarize what (Kirk) and this chapter believed it would simply be that we love America, and America is worth fighting for,” Webster said during the vigil. “We need to fight on the battlefield of ideas for America’s future.”
Webster said attendees should have conversations with people they disagree with, no matter how far gone they may think the country is. Lillian Smith, a textiles and apparel sophomore who attended the event, said although people may disagree with Kirk’s viewpoints, he provided a sense of community for her in Austin and made her feel like she’s not alone as a Christian, conservative youth.
“Charlie Kirk was somebody who’s super important for people that are our age in college,” Smith said. “He gave people of all opinions a mouthpiece to speak in the public eye.”
Kirk visited UT in 2022 as a part of his ‘Live Free’ tour, speaking at Etter-Harbin Alumni Center. He discussed topics like abortion, the COVID-19 vaccine and free speech. His stop was met with mixed opinions by students. Kirk also visited campus in 2018 for a debate hosted by TPUSA’s UT chapter.
This shooting at Utah Valley University marks another act of what law enforcement and national officials are calling “political violence.” In July, Vance Boelter, 57, was charged with six federal charges related to the shooting of Minnesota state house representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, according to the Minnesota’s U.S. Attorney’s office. Boelter was also charged in connection to a shooting that injured state senator John Hoffman and his wife as well as the attempted shooting of Hoffman’s daughter.
President Trump wrote in a series of Truth Social Posts, that his sympathies went out to Kirk’s family, and he would be ordering all American flags to be lowered to half mast throughout the country until Sunday evening. Gov. Greg Abbott also ordered the lowering of Texas flags.
“I know you’re feeling demoralized right now,” Webster said. “Charlie would never give up on the country that gave him so much. He would never give up on the people in the organization that he loved, so neither could you.”
