Across college campuses and city streets in America, the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has sparked a wave of public mourning, reflection, and debate over the state of political discourse in the country. In the days following Kirk’s killing on September 10, 2025, at a university debate in Utah, communities from Kentucky to New York have gathered by the hundreds and thousands to honor his legacy, confront the specter of political violence, and wrestle with the deep divisions his life and death have highlighted.
On the evening of September 25, the South Lawn of Western Kentucky University (WKU) glowed with candlelight as close to 300 people assembled for a vigil in Kirk’s honor. According to the Bowling Green Daily News, the event was hosted by the WKU chapter of Turning Point USA, the organization Kirk founded and led. Attendees, many wearing apparel emblazoned with Christian and patriotic themes, listened as speakers emphasized Kirk’s faith, his courage in defending conservative values, and his influence on a generation of young Americans.
State Senator Mike Wilson, a Bowling Green Republican, captured the sentiment of many present: “Whether he was on a college campus in front of thousands or across the table from an opponent, he defended his faith, our freedoms and Christ himself with courage and conviction.” Wilson went on to note, “Charlie confronted ideologies that had no basis in fact, not with anger but with clarity, not with hatred, but with confidence in the truth… His voice has been multiplied, his message has been amplified, and that is the enduring power of his legacy.”
Security at the WKU vigil was robust, with local and state law enforcement agencies present to ensure order. The mood, according to those in attendance, was one of somber determination. Pastor Roger Ryan invoked a familiar aphorism: “All needed for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing. Charlie Kirk refused to do nothing.” State Representative Robert Duvall, also of Bowling Green, spoke of the emotional aftermath—sadness, anger, fear—and the resolve it had inspired. “I’m a fellow believer who is heartbroken because we have lost a brother, all because he chose to speak the truth about our savior Jesus Christ.”
Mark Lord, district director for U.S. Representative Brett Guthrie, read a statement from the congressman: “Charlie Kirk inspired an entire generation of Americans to be proud of our nation and more importantly, love God. Since his passing, one thing has become increasingly apparent — the movement he helped to foster is alive now more than ever.”
The evening closed with the Lord’s Prayer and worship songs, but the message was clear: Kirk’s supporters intend to carry forward his work. “We are going to continue Charlie’s Turning Point legacy,” said Abbey Gill, a member of the local chapter.
Elsewhere in Kentucky, at Eastern Kentucky University’s Powell Plaza, another vigil unfolded the same night. According to the Eastern Progress, the amphitheater was filled with students, local residents, and representatives from campus organizations including EKU Turning Point USA, Students for Life, and the College Republicans. The event, which began with Christian songs and scripture, was both a celebration of Kirk’s life and a rallying cry for free speech and unity.
Brenda Back and Tanya Hackbert, two attendees wearing shirts reading “God Use Me as Your Will” and MAGA hats, voiced their hope that the vigil would inspire decency and peace. Hackbert remarked, “For somebody dying, we don’t need to riot and protest and be against each other. Everybody can come together, that’s what he wanted; peace, and debating, and talking and learning.”
TPUSA President Aaron Gonzalez addressed the crowd, saying, “Tonight, we stand here and we honor a great man, a great speaker, a great debater, a great innovator, a great influencer. But more than anything, we stand here and we honor a great man of Christ and a great man of faith.” He called for Americans to set aside political divisions: “If we are going to remember Charlie, let us do so by standing for our beliefs, removing titles that divide us, and tearing off the lens of hatred, and dawning a lens of love for each other.”
Michael Frazier, executive director of the Kentucky Student Rights Coalition, reflected on Kirk’s impact: “The passing of Charlie Kirk has left a void in our nation, but also sparked a revival. A revival of faith, and a revival of free speech.” Frazier pointed out that even the protestors gathered outside the vigil were exercising the very First Amendment rights Kirk championed. “Charlie spent his life championing free discussion, especially on college campuses. The path of safety lies in the opportunity to discuss grievances, and propose remedies openly and without fear, not conflating disagreements with hate and violence and assault, like some of our friends across the street would like to think.”
Protesters, mostly students, stood outside the vigil, making their opposition to Kirk’s far-right rhetoric clear, while also denouncing political violence. One protester, who declined to be named, said, “We do not support political assassinations, and we did not support Kirk’s assassination.” Their presence underscored the polarization surrounding Kirk’s legacy, but also a shared desire for peaceful expression of views.
Meanwhile, in Middle Village, Queens, more than 1,000 people turned out for a “We Will Not Be Silenced” walk honoring Kirk on September 23. Hosted by Council Member Robert Holden, District 30 Republican candidate Alicia Vaichunas, Queens County GOP Chair Tony Nunziato, and local business owner Dani Marciano, the event aimed to honor Kirk’s life while calling for an end to political violence. According to QNS, the walk began at 6 p.m. near Juniper Valley Park and featured prayers and signs reading “We are Charlie Kirk” and “Freedom.”
Holden, reflecting on Kirk’s death, stated, “Charlie Kirk inspired vigorous debate and civic engagement over division, and we came together to honor a young man who urged discourse, not violence. His loss at the hands of hate is a tragedy, and it’s on all of us to reject political violence and recommit to respectful dialogue.” In a social media post after the event, Holden added, “We can argue hard on the issues, but words matter. Let’s lower the temperature, choose debate and discourse over demonization, and keep our city united and safe.”
Not everyone was satisfied with the focus on Kirk, however. Some social media users criticized organizers for not holding similar events for other victims of political violence, including Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and victims of school shootings. The criticism reflected the broader national conversation about which tragedies are memorialized and why, and whether communities are consistent in their response to violence across the political spectrum.
Despite the controversy, the outpouring of grief and resolve at these vigils and marches revealed a nation grappling with loss, division, and the urgent need for civil dialogue. For many, Kirk’s death has become a rallying point for renewed engagement in faith, free speech, and unity—even as the debates over his legacy and the meaning of his message continue to echo across America’s campuses and communities.
