Across the United States, thousands of mourners have gathered in recent days to honor the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, whose assassination on September 10, 2025, sent shockwaves through both political and campus communities. From candlelit vigils on college greens to solemn ceremonies inside the halls of Congress, the response to Kirk’s death has been both deeply personal and unmistakably political, drawing together supporters, critics, and those searching for unity in a time of turmoil.
On September 15, 2025, Arizona State University’s Desert Financial Arena became a focal point for the national outpouring of grief. More than 10,000 people had registered to attend a vigil organized by the university’s Turning Point USA chapter, according to FOX 10 Phoenix. The event, which began at 5:30 PM, saw students and community members holding up their lit phones in a sea of light, a poignant tribute to a man who, just days before, had been killed while speaking at Utah Valley University as part of his “American Comeback Tour.” Volunteers moved through the crowd with clipboards and voter registration forms, determined to channel the collective anger and sorrow into political engagement. “Those close to slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk are asking people mourning his death to ‘turn anger into action,’” reported The Arizona Republic.
But the movement to remember Kirk was not limited to Arizona. In Murfreesboro, Tennessee, approximately 2,000 people gathered at the Fountains at Gateway development for a Candlelight Vigil and Prayer Night. Organized by Club America and Turning Point USA chapters in Middle Tennessee, the event drew an audience spanning generations—some wearing crosses, others waving American flags, and many holding signs with messages like “Repent, Pray & Remember Charlie Kirk.” Izzy Faulker, a local youth activism leader, addressed the crowd with words that echoed the spirit of the evening: “This is what Charlie wanted. If there’s a looking glass looking down on earth, Charlie would say I am so proud of you, keep going, keep standing strong, keep doing what you’re doing and keep standing for what you believe in because that is what he advocated for.”
Jodi Kreft, a Murfreesboro resident who attended with her daughters, reflected on Kirk’s impact: “It literally is a turning point in our country and the world. He’s had such an impact on everyone. It’s so important to have courage and stand up for what you believe in like Charlie. We need to get back to our roots, faith and family, and Charlie was trying to instill that message into all of us. We all loved him and still do. His words will live on forever.”
Vigils and memorials sprang up from coast to coast. At the University of South Carolina, students filled a lecture hall to capacity on the night of September 15, with some forced to leave due to overcrowding. “We are experiencing an incredibly dark time in this nation, and there are no words to express how lost we have become,” the USC Turning Point USA chapter wrote in a social media post. “Charlie Kirk was a man who gave a microphone to people who hated him, a man who invited those who disagreed to come and express their views, a man so strong in his faith—assassinated at 31 years old.”
In New York City, mourners gathered at Washington Square Park on September 14, forming a circle around candles and photos of Kirk. The crowd, diverse in political affiliation, chanted “USA! USA! USA!” and listened as an organizer told them, “People from different political backgrounds come together because we all agree on this one thing: political violence has no place in this republic. Liberty and the pursuit of happiness are still sacred values in this land,” as reported by Fox News Digital.
Similar scenes played out in Beverly Hills Garden Park, California, where a large crowd assembled for a rally and vigil. Jonathan Geoola, a student at Pierce College, told FOX 11, “I saw everything happening with Charlie, and I felt very hurt about it because he was someone who talked a lot about freedom and freedom of speech, which is something I really agreed with.”
In Sulphur, Louisiana, hundreds gathered at The Grove for a candlelight service that extended beyond Kirk, honoring other victims of recent violence, including Melissa and those affected by recent school shootings. The event’s organizers, Brice Trahan and Rachel Daigle, emphasized unity and healing. “We feel like Sulphur could be a community that’s full of unity and just a strong community where this act of violence does not happen here,” Trahan said, according to KPLC. Daigle added, “We just wanted to bring the community together in a devastating time and just have community.”
The national response reached the halls of Congress, where House Republicans—and a handful of Democrats—held a rare prayer vigil in Statuary Hall to honor Kirk. Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, standing beside a photograph of Kirk with his wife Erika and their two children, called for civil political discourse. “The sadness for so many of us turned to anger,” Johnson said. “And there’s been a mixture of emotions, including fear. What we do know about Charlie is that he would not want us to be overcome by despair. He would want us to carry the message forward, to honor his memory and to expand the legacy that he left behind.”
Representative Tom Emmer of Minnesota used his remarks to reflect on other acts of political violence, invoking the assassinations of Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as the attempted assassination of former President Trump and the 2017 shooting of Representative Steve Scalise. “The fact that he got killed, and many Americans consequently celebrated his murder, begs the question: How do we get so far away from the values our nation was built for?” Emmer asked. “More importantly, how do we get back?”
The vigil inside the Capitol, attended by a few Democrats including Representatives Debbie Dingell, Tom Suozzi, Don Davis, John B. Larson, Jimmy Panetta, and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, concluded with a moment of silence and prayer. Dozens of lawmakers placed candles at the base of Kirk’s photo next to a wreath of red and white roses. The event’s location—inside Statuary Hall—underscored its rarity and significance, as such ceremonies are typically reserved for top officials or national figures.
The outpouring of support and remembrance has not been without controversy. Kirk’s legacy as a conservative firebrand who frequently debated contentious topics—race, transgender rights, feminism, and Islam—has divided opinion, with many progressives choosing not to participate in the official remembrances. Yet, even among those who disagreed with Kirk’s positions, there has been a shared sense of loss and a call to reject political violence.
Looking ahead, Turning Point USA has announced a massive public memorial service, “Building a Legacy, Remembering Charlie Kirk,” scheduled for Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Former President Trump has announced his intention to attend and may deliver remarks, signaling the event’s national significance and the enduring impact of Kirk’s life and work.
As the nation continues to grapple with the meaning of Kirk’s death, his supporters and detractors alike are left to ponder the future of civil discourse and political activism in an era marked by division and tragedy. For many, the message is clear: the struggle to honor Kirk’s legacy is inseparable from the broader fight to preserve the values of debate, faith, and unity that he championed—however contested they may be.
