UT Students Mourn Charlie Kirk, Condemn Violence

More than 100 University of Texas students and community members gathered Thursday night to mourn Charlie Kirk and share what he meant to them.

On a quiet Thursday evening, University of Texas students gathered in a circle, an orange glow from battery-powered candles by their feet and the white tower tolling behind them. The crowd of about 100 mourned someone who made them feel seen, empowered and hopeful.

Prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk, 31, was shot and killed Wednesday during a rally at Utah Valley University in an act of political violence that shocked and devastated Americans across the nation. But for conservative corners of campuses, where Kirk had inspired students through his political organization Turning Point USA, the impact felt personal, including at UT.

To UT students and its Turning Point USA chapter, which organized the vigil, Kirk was a patriot, someone who had a willingness to have hard conversations across the aisle, a man of faith, and a human who unjustly lost his life. The crowd faced toward photos of Kirk and his family at the center of an arch that was strewn with flowers and hand-signed poster boards saying "thank you" for his bravery and the voice he gave them.

"He devoted his entire adult life to running Turning Point, to fighting for this country, for fighting to make it better," said Andrew McKiernan, president of UT's chapter, at the vigil. "I also don't want to lose sight of that fact that Charlie Kirk was indeed a person."

For mom-of-three Laura Carr, who disagreed with him on many fronts, Kirk represented an ability to have tough conversations across the aisle, a value she said she raised her three kids with. They each voted differently and believe strongly in their differing values, she told the American-Statesman. Kirk taught Gen Z, she said, to form their own opinions, to be confident in them, and to express them — an important gift.

"If you don't discuss opinions with those that we don't agree with, then hatred forms and violence comes," Carr said tearfully. "It's very important that people look at not only the divisive things he said, but his perspective that it's important to have discourse even when you disagree."

For freshmen Caden Hastings, Kirk made him think, even when he disagreed with him. UT graduate student J.K. Spinler, wrapped in a Texas flag at the vigil, said Kirk made him feel like he could face the high unemployment, loneliness and isolation young men faced.

"He was really a voice for young people, and having him (be) killed felt like ... one of our voices was silenced," Spinler said. "Gen Z, we experienced so much violence over the years, and I just feel like there's a target on us."

The violence shocked them all.

Speakers told the crowd what Kirk had taught them, of the senselessness of his death, and their commitment to carrying his legacy forward. Some in the crowd cried, while others stared ahead.

"This is something that's not normal. Death is not normal," said Evan Vega, vice president of UT's chapter, at the vigil. "You see it all the time, and it is common, but that doesn't make it right."

Toby Newbould, vice president of College Republicans, came to the United States from the United Kingdom because he loved America, and considers the act "a terror attack on the U.S. Constitution."

"Charlie Kirk wasn't a politician," Newbould said. "He was the man expressing his First Amendment right."

Even though Hastings, the freshman, knows most people on campus don't agree with Kirk, seeing the majority of people condemn the violence gives him hope. He anticipates the country is at a turning point, with many difficult conversations on the horizon.

"America will never be the same," he said, referencing one of the final posts on Kirk's Instagram account.

Owen Lowe, co-chair of the Young Conservatives of Texas, understands the helplessness. But he also knows that Kirk stood for free speech, and believes in continuing it.

"What Charlie Kirk did, and what made him noble, was that he had the courage to go out and say the things and talk to people and have those conversations, and you can't just call it quits because something tragic happened. You have to have that same courage to keep going," Lowe said. "You keep fighting, you fight harder."

As the "Eyes of Texas" chimed from the tower, McKiernan told the crowd that though the Turning Point USA chapter is on a break, the work will continue, and so will its mission.

"Charlie knew young people like no one else in politics, especially on the political right. He was amazing at what he did," he said. "And something I want to say is, even though Charlie's gone, his videos are still here for us to watch. His words are alive. What he did is alive. Charlie's legacy will continue."