Hundreds honor conservative activist Charlie Kirk with vigil at Penn State
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- Hundreds gathered at Penn State for a candlelight vigil honoring Charlie Kirk.
- Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed while speaking at a Utah event.
- Supporters praised Kirk’s advocacy while denouncing political violence.
Several hundred students and community members gathered at Old Main on Thursday night to hold a candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist who died Wednesday after he was shot while speaking at a campus event in Utah.
Kirk visited Penn State last September, tossing hundreds of red MAGA hats to fans and registering more than 200 voters. Some of those same attendees returned Thursday to pay their respects and say a prayer for Kirk and his family.
“Whether or not you agreed with him, he lived by his principles every day. I respect that a lot,” said one Penn State senior who sported a MAGA hat signed last year by Kirk. “He’s a family man.”
Kirk was known as an ally of President Donald Trump and the founder of Turning Point USA, a conservative organization that promotes similar values among young people. He was a controversial figure, generating praise from many Republicans for mobilizing young voters and drawing disdain from many Democrats for targeting progressive policies and spreading misinformation — such as amplifying false claims that Haitian immigrants were eating cats and dogs in Ohio.
Thursday’s vigil came together quickly and was co-organized by Penn State’s College Republicans and by the university chapter of Turning Point USA. The roughly 30-minute vigil followed the College Republicans’ previously planned 9/11 memorial service.
“He really had an impact on students,” Tristin Kilgore, president of Penn State’s College Republicans, told the CDT. “He made people feel kind of safe to say what they believed and to get involved in politics when young people traditionally haven’t really gotten too involved. ... It’s just truly amazing work that he was doing, and I think that’s why you’re seeing a lot of students come out today.”
The mood was largely quiet and somber, even before the event officially started. The vigil opened with renditions of “America the Beautiful” and “Amazing Grace,” before speakers began taking turns addressing Kirk’s legacy and his family’s loss.
State Sen. Cris Dush, R-Brookville, was among those to speak from the dais while sporting a MAGA hat and holding a white candle.
“We have to take the time to grieve. It’s right to do so,” Dush said softly. “But we have a responsibility to stand up and finish the work that Charlie has done.”
One man shouted in agreement from the crowd, “Hear! Hear!”
Kirk was widely lionized Thursday night. He was praised for his commitment to the First Amendment and to Christian values. But the 31-year-old father of two historically hasn’t been without his critics.
He falsely claimed widespread voter fraud in the 2020 U.S. presidential election and claimed hydroxychloroquine was “100% effective” against COVID-19, among other false claims. He has also been labeled a misogynist by detractors and has spoken against the LGBTQ+ community, while his supporters often painted him as a courageous leader who simply reflected traditional Christian values.
On Thursday, Kirk’s supporters remained calm and respectful. Dush called on the crowd to fight — but to “fight with words.” No speech called for violence, and many echoed the sentiment that violence against anyone — regardless of party — was unacceptable.
With the suspect in the fatal shooting still at large, Pennsylvania politicians from both sides of the aisle have offered prayers and condemned the deadly attack.
Framed photos of Kirk at Penn State were off-set between two small American flags, in front of the dais and on the larger flag pole behind the crowd. Some fold-up chairs were available at the center of the Old Main lawn, but the crowd was so large that more than two-thirds simply stood behind the chairs.
Kirk last visited Penn State’s University Park campus on Sept. 18, 2024, where hundreds turned out to hear him speak. Kirk never got that full opportunity, as the Penn State chapter of his organization apparently never requested to have a speaker, meaning the group was not allowed to have sound amplification equipment.
Kirk instead posed with photos of fans. Centre County Republicans said at the time they still registered more than 230 voters at the event.
He also came to campus in April 2019 for a forum with Donald Trump Jr.
“I’ve followed his career and seen the clips of him talking with people, and it’s really inspiring,” Kilgore added. “And it encourages me, encourages my organization and I really think it encourages people on both sides to work together. We’ve had groups reach out that may not agree with the College Republicans, asking to work with us, asking to help us on the 9/11 event or working toward furthering dialogue on campus.
“We just don’t want to see the continued violence. And we don’t want to see political violence. It’s horrible.”
