Charlie Kirk assassination: Erika Kirk shares heartwarming video of late husband as memorial nears

The assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk loomed over a Republican campaign rally in Chesterfield, Virginia Friday for Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears where speakers including Vivek Ramaswamy and Gov. Glenn Youngkin framed his death as a call to action.

Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy told supporters that honoring Kirk meant rejecting political violence and turning to the ballot box. “If you want to restore the rule of law in this state, vote Sears. If you want to restore meritocracy in this state, vote Sears. If you want to grow the economy in this state, vote Sears. If you want to bring down costs in this state, vote Sears. If you want Virginia to pave America's path back to greatness, vote Sears,” Ramaswamy said. “Don’t just come to this event. We’re asking you go home, you take those signs, you put them up in your yard, put that bumper sticker on your car, leave this event tonight, get ten more people who haven’t voted early today to get out in early voting and actually do it. We don’t win through bullets, we win through ballots. That’s how we do it in the Republican Party, that’s how we do it in the United States of America. That is who we are.”

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin called Kirk’s killing “a horrific display of evil” and led the crowd in prayer. “What happened last week was an assault on America, but also a violation of everything we hold dear. A man who was standing for God and engaging in a discussion with America was assassinated. A father, a husband. A child of Christ. And so if we could just gather together for a minute.”

Early voting began in Virginia's gubernatorial election earlier this week, with Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears taking on Democrat Rep. Abigail Spanberger.

Utah Valley University hosted a 'vigil for unity' Friday to honor Charlie Kirk, the Turning Point USA founder killed during an event on the Orem campus last week.

Hundreds gathered to remember his life and reflect on the impact of his death.

Caleb Chilcutt, one of the speakers, urged unity in a time of national grief. “In times of loss and hardship, it can be easy to focus on differences, but Charlie reminded us that our true strength is found in what brings us together,” he said. “Let us choose courage. Courage to listen. Courage to love and courage to heal together.”

Elder Matthew Holland, former president of UVU, framed his tragic death in a broad view of American resilience. “Another harbinger of hope is that while this nation is reeling from a level of division not seen in recent times, America has a solid history of facing even worse,” Holland said. “It’s been wisely observed that hope is being able to see that there is light, despite all of the darkness.”

Current UVU President Astrid Tuminez shared how the community had responded in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. “I have seen goodness and mercy. Our community, the wounded, showed up to serve one another. We hugged each other. We offered trauma and mental health support,” she said.

The vigil closed in prayer, with speakers urging attendees to carry Kirk’s legacy forward through acts of service and faith.

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital after delivering his Red Mass homily to Minnesota’s Catholic lawyers and judges, Bishop Robert Barron warned that the brutal murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk represents a cultural breaking point for America — not only because of the tragedy itself, but because it symbolizes an assault on free speech and civil dialogue.

Barron argued that Kirk’s killing is resonating so strongly because "he died not with a gun or a knife or a grenade in his hand, but a microphone." To Barron, the attack reveals that something "basic to our civilization is in danger of being lost."

Speaking inside St. Paul Cathedral, Barron said Kirk’s death "shook the foundations" of American civic life because it struck at the heart of free and open dialogue. "Each human being is a subject of infinite dignity, and without that recognition, conversation devolves into violence."

Barron described Kirk as "a man of great intelligence, charm, and goodness of heart." Charlie, he said, embodied a tradition of open debate stretching back to the roots of Western civilization.

"Charlie, as thousands of videos on YouTube attest, was committed to open dialogue, particularly on college campuses."

The bishop explained that this tradition rests on two bedrock assumptions: the dignity of the individual and the objectivity of truth."

There is a rational structure to the world and moral values to which anyone, by virtue of being a rational creature, can appeal."

Both principles, he added, are grounded in God. "Thomas Jefferson knew that human rights were rooted in this divine soil: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights'."

Barron said Kirk himself understood that faith was central: "He always made it clear that the most important thing in his life—the thing he most wanted to be remembered for—was not his party affiliation or political philosophy but his Christian faith."

This is an excerpt of an article by Fox News' Jasmine Baehr.

Former Walt Disney Company CEO Michael Eisner blasted his former company’s indefinite suspension of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on Friday.

In an X post, Eisner claimed that the federal government pressured Disney into suspending the ABC late-night show, suggesting it was an attack on free speech. He also wondered why more people weren’t standing up to this supposed government pressure.

"Where has all the leadership gone? If not for university presidents, law firm managing partners, and corporate chief executives standing up against bullies, who then will step up for the first amendment?" Eisner wrote.

Eisner, who was Disney’s CEO from 1984 to 2005, published the post in response to Disney pulling late-night host Jimmy Kimmel’s show off the air on Wednesday. 

This is an excerpt from an article by Gabriel Hays.

Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) questions witnesses in a hearing of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, in the Cannon House Office Building on February 28, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Getty Images)

Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., a Democratic nominee for governor, called Charlie Kirk a Christian nationalist who wanted to roll back the rights of women and Black people following the passage of a House resolution honoring the conservative activist.

“I take my oath to the Constitution seriously. I believe in free speech. And that the First Amendment wouldn’t be necessary if it were only meant to cover language we agreed with," Sherrill said in a statement. "It is meant to protect people like Charlie Kirk who present vile dissenting views. But it is also meant to protect teachers, doctors, and TV comedians who may express views the president doesn’t like."

“Charlie Kirk was advocating for a Christian nationalist government and to roll back the rights of women and Black people — this flies in the face of every value I hold dear and that I fight for," she added. "But the Constitution protects free speech, even for those I vehemently oppose. 

In addition, the lawmaker said President Donald Trump continues to "define hypocrisy."

“On one hand, he denounced Kirk’s politically motivated killing, while on the other hand, is instigating a witch hunt worthy of Joseph McCarthy to shut down the free speech rights of anyone who disagrees with Kirk’s racist, anti-American views," she said.

While condemning Kirk's murder, she said she will continue to "condemn political violence, racism, attacks on women, and the hypocrisy coming from Trump and his acolytes."

President Donald Trump said Friday that a deal is "well on its way" with China over TikTok. (Getty Images)

President Donald Trump on Friday announced that a deal is "well on its way" with China on TikTok, and credited conservative activist Charlie Kirk as being a proponent of the popular social media platform, particularly among younger voters, that helped get him elected last fall.

"I was helped very much by Charlie Kirk," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "He was very much in favor of it and said I should use it. It had a pretty good effect on the election because we won by a lot."

Police bodycam footage shows Tyler Robinson, the alleged gunman accused of killing Charlie Kirk, after a May 2022 traffic incident in Utah.

The video, obtained by Scripps News, shows the moments after an apparent fender bender in St. George, Utah, in which Robinson, 22, and another driver collided in an intersection.

No driver was cited and neither appeared to be seriously injured.

Robinson, who was 19 at the time, was driving an Audi when he slammed into a Ford sedan that was making a left turn in front of him, according to the video. He appeared cooperative.

"It just turned yellow as I was getting into the intersection," he told officers.

Robinson said he was driving with his brother and that he had contacted his mother to help provide his insurance information.

She arrived later to provide information to the officer.

Robinson is being held in jail while facing charges for Kirk's fatal shooting. Prosecutors have said they plan to seek the death penalty.

Turning Point USA’s future could entail expanding the organization under the leadership of Erika Kirk, who was appointed to lead the conservative nonprofit following the assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk, last week.

Alex Clark, host of the podcast "Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark" and a longtime TPUSA personality, explained that Kirk held a Zoom call on Wednesday with employees, noting that she has been an "absolute force" who wants to "10x the organization."

Since the assassination, the group has received more than 62,000 new requests for high school and college chapters.

"I'm excited because Charlie had said on his show at one point that Erika was actually more conservative than he was, so I can't wait to see what that means," Clark told Fox News Digital in a phone interview on Thursday.

"I think that's kind of a poetic justice that will be done to the left, because, obviously, they were excited that they took out Charlie, and they thought that everything would die with him. And that's just clearly not even close to the reality of the situation."

This is an excerpt from an article by Cameron Arcand.

U.S Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said he condemned the killing of Charlie Kirk but could not vote in favor of a resolution honoring him because of his "divisive" and "disparaging" views.

In a statement, Thompson, a ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, said while he condemns “the violent murder” of Kirk, “my deep regret that Mr. Kirk was killed and my respect for his First Amendment right to express himself freely does not make him someone that should be elevated as a role model for the American public.”

Thompson said the resolution would have done so.

“The fact is Charlie Kirk’s rhetoric was divisive, disparaging, and too often rooted in grievance. The beliefs he evangelized normalized views on race, sex, and immigration,” Thompson said

He also said Kirk's views “resurrected dangerous prejudices of a dark past.”

"I cannot in good conscience honor someone who demeaned women, immigrants, and Black Americans, and who questioned the very foundation of civil rights progress in this country," he added.

Protestors gather outside of Disney in Burbank in response to ABC pulling late-night host Jimmy Kimmel off air indefinitely over comments he made about the shooting of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. ( Christina House / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Scores of protesters gathered outside Walt Disney Studios to rail against Disney’s suspension of ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel on Thursday evening.

Entertainment outlets reported that around 200 protesters demonstrated outside of Disney’s location in Burbank, Califwornia to demand that Disney put "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" back on the air after it was pulled after Kimmel’s comments on the alleged murderer of Charlie Kirk.

"It’s a First Amendment right. Our freedom of expression, our freedom of speech, is fundamental. And last night ABC and Disney broke that," Writers Guild of America West President Meredith Stiehm told The Hollywood Reporter while attending the protest.

Liberals have rallied together to denounce Kimmel’s removal from the airwaves since Disney-owned ABC announced it on Wednesday. The stunning move came after Kimmel seemingly suggested on Monday that Kirk’s suspected assassin, Tyler Robinson, was a MAGA supporter, despite reports he had a left-wing ideology.

Outside the studio, a protester named Matty Thorn told the BBC, "This is the ultimate in cancel culture."

This is an excerpt from an article by Gabriel Hays.

The White House released an emotional video tribute to Charlie Kirk  featuring excerpts from a speech his widow, Erika, gave in the wake of his assassination in which she declared, "You have no idea the fire that you have ignited." 

"Charlie always said that when he was gone, he wanted to be remembered for his courage and for his faith," Erika Kirk is heard saying as the video displayed scenes of memorials and vigils held for Kirk around the U.S. "Now and for all eternity, he will stand at his Savior's side, wearing the glorious crown of a martyr." 

"The evildoers responsible for my husband's assassination have no idea what they have done," she added. "They killed Charlie because he preached a message of patriotism, faith, and of God's merciful love. They should all know this: If you thought that my husband's mission was powerful before, you have no idea. You have no idea what you just have unleashed across this entire country, in this world. You have no idea." 

The clip also features Erika Kirk vowing: "The movement my husband built will not die. It won't. I refuse to let that happen."  

At one point, Kirk’s casket is shown being taken off Air Force Two after it arrived in Arizona following his assassination on Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University.

In another portion, Kirk is seen walking alongside President Donald Trump. 

The is an excerpt from an article by Greg Norman.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas praised the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel after his show was yanked off the air, calling it a "fantastic thing" while also criticizing Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr, calling his actions “dangerous as hell” and “right out of ‘Goodfellas.’”

"I think Jimmy Kimmel is putting up garbage for a long, long time," Cruz said on his podcast, "The Verdict with Ted Cruz."

Cruz also said there were questions about the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and its role in Kimmel's suspension.

“If the government gets in the business of saying: ‘We don’t like what you, the media, have said. We’re going to ban you from the airwaves if you don’t say what we like,' that will end up bad for conservatives,” he said.

Cruz warned that the FCC could leverage its power under a Democratic administration.

“They will silence us,” he said. “They will use this power, and they will use it ruthlessly.”

Later on Friday, President Donald Trump said he disagreed with Cruz's remarks about Carr.

"I think Brandon Carr is a great American patriot," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "So I disagree with Ted Cruz on that."

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., listens during a meeting with the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on Capitol Hill on May 13, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said on the House floor Friday that the resolution passed honoring Charlie Kirk pushes a “legacy of bigotry,” despite his “horrific” assassination. 

Ocasio-Cortez was one of 58 Democrats to vote against the resolution. 

“Charlie Kirk's assassination was a horrific and vile attack, an incident of political violence. And condemning the depravity of Kirk's brutal murder is a straightforward matter, one that is especially important to help stabilize an increasingly unsafe and volatile political environment where everyday people feel more at risk,” she said. 

“The majority proceeded with a resolution that brings great pain to the millions of Americans who endured segregation, Jim Crow, and the legacy of bigotry today,” Ocasio-Cortez continued.  

She said Kirk’s “rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant, uneducated and sought to disenfranchise millions of Americans, far from the ‘working tirelessly to promote unity' asserted by the majority in this resolution.” 

“We continue to pray for Mr. Kirk's family and loved ones in the wake of this terrible act. I am thinking, especially of his children and his wife, whose grief cannot be measured,” Ocasio-Cortez also said. 

The assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk is prompting Timothy Cardinal Dolan to call it a moment of spiritual awakening for young people. Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, compared Kirk to a "modern-day St. Paul." 

"He was a missionary, he's an evangelist, he's a hero. He's one I think that knew what Jesus meant when he said the truth will set you free," Dolan said Friday on "Fox & Friends." 

He noted that while Kirk had a blunt style, he respected opposing views.

"The difference is the way, the mode, the style that he did it always with respect and not only was that a gracious kind of virtuous thing to do, it's effective."

Dolan said he began learning more about Kirk’s faith work only after his death on Sept. 10. Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University. He leaves behind his wife and two children. 

The cardinal believes the tragedy could inspire a renewed interest in faith among young people, a trend he says has already been growing.

"What they're seeing is almost this kind of revival of a sense of value and truth and conviction, almost an elevation of the role of faith back into the public square where our founders intended it to be from the beginning," Dolan said. 

After the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, his friend and fellow conservative influencer Riley Gaines is speaking out about her own experience with left-wing campus violence – and what comes next for conservatives on college campuses.

Gaines said that at a 2023 Turning Point USA event at San Francisco State University, radical trans student activists attacked her and forced her to take refuge in a classroom for hours as university police failed to disperse the hostile crowd. The former NCAA swimmer, who rose to prominence in 2022 for speaking out about her experience competing against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, said that a mob of protesters stormed the event, disrupted her with aggressive chanting, flickered the lights and surrounded her.

"I [was] so disoriented, you have men and dresses and women with beards. I'm confused, fists are flying in my face," Gaines, who is a host of her own Outkick show, told Fox News Digital.

The conservative activist said that a plainclothes police officer pulled her out of the scrum and through a back exit into a hallway, where even more protesters were waiting. She said she took refuge in a nearby classroom for hours into the night as demonstrators gathered outside.

Gaines told Fox News Digital that protesters demanded money if she wanted "to see my family again," and the campus cops failed to disperse the crowd, allegedly saying they couldn’t be seen as antagonistic to the transgender community.   

"I was scared. I was scared for my life. I broke down in tears and I looked at the officer and I said, ‘I just want to go home,’ and he looked at me and he said, ‘that's a bit selfish, don't you think we want to home too?’" Gaines told Fox News Digital.

Federal law enforcement agencies are monitoring for threats ahead of Charlie Kirk's memorial service in Arizona this weekend, according to a new report.

They are "tracking several threats of unknown credibility," according to a law enforcement bulletin obtained by ABC News.

"Violent extremists and unaffiliated lone offenders may view the memorial service or related events as attractive attack targets due to the attendance of these individuals, other senior U.S. government officials, state and local government officials, and political activists and due to major international media attention," the memo reportedly says.

Federal authorities have long warned about potential lone wolf attackers.

"The U.S. Secret Service has been designated as the Federal Coordinator for this effort. Our teams are already on the ground in Phoenix and Glendale, working side-by-side with state, local and federal partners," the U.S. Secret Service's Special Agent in Charge of Phoenix William Mack said in a statement. "Together, we are fully committed to ensuring that these solemn events receive the comprehensive protection and support they require."

The Department of Homeland Security also designated the memorial as a Special Event Assessment Rating Level 1, "reserved for events of the highest national significance" and the same severity as the Super Bowl.

"The Department of Homeland Security has designated the upcoming funeral and memorial service as a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level 1 event," a DHS senior official said. "This designation is reserved for events of the highest national significance and enables the federal government to provide the full range of law enforcement and security resources necessary to support local officials in ensuring a safe and successful event."

A makeshift memorial grows in size at the Turning Point USA headquarters on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in Phoenix, Ariz. (AP/Ross D. Franklin)

Turning Point USA announced Friday that it “has received 62,000+ requests from high school and college students nationwide to start a chapter or get involved with an existing chapter."

The reported surge in interest comes after Charlie Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, Sept. 10. 

Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of "The Charlie Kirk Show," told Fox News Digital earlier this week that Turning Point USA currently has 900 official college chapters and approximately 1,200 high school chapters. 

Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012. After his death, the board unanimously elected his widow, Erika Kirk, to succeed him as CEO and Chair of the Board.

Fox News Digital's Amanda Macias contributed to this report. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters following the passage of a resolution honoring Charlie Kirk that, “Sadly, a number of Democrats” couldn’t find it in themselves to vote in favor of it. 

The resolution honoring Kirk passed the House on Friday by a 310-58 vote. All those who voted against were Democrats. 

“We passed a resolution to honor the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk. My late friend, the friend of so many in this chamber. And we called out political violence in America. In fact, I want to read with you the final line of this resolution, because I think it's something that the American people are eager to hear,” Johnson said. 

“It says this, ‘the House of Representatives calls upon all Americans to reject political violence, recommit to respectful debate, uphold American values, and respect one another as fellow Americans,’” Johnson said. 

“Sadly, a number of Democrats could not bring themselves to vote for that,” Johnson added. 

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., joined at left by Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., leads a memorial vigil to honor conservative activist Charlie Kirk who was shot and killed at an event in Utah last week, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP/J. Scott Applewhite)

The House of Representatives passed a resolution Friday to honor late conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

The resolution passed by a vote of 310-58, with 38 voting present. All Republicans who voted were a "yes." Ninety-five Democrats voted in favor of the resolution.

Notably, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., voted in favor of the resolution, while progressive "Squad" member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., was among the 58 Democrats to vote against honoring Kirk, representing a divide within the Democratic Party.

The resolution to honor Kirk, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., lauded Kirk as "one of the most prominent voices in America, engaging in respectful, civil discourse across college campuses, media platforms and national forums, always seeking to elevate truth, foster understanding and strengthen the Republic."

It also said Kirk's "commitment to civil discussion and debate stood as a model for young Americans across the political spectrum, and he worked tirelessly to promote unity without compromising on conviction." It called his killing "a sobering reminder of the growing threat posed by political extremism and hatred in our society."

Fox News' Tyler Olson and Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.

Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of "The Charlie Kirk Show" and a close friend of Charlie Kirk, is calling out Paramount for pulling reruns of a South Park episode parodying the conservative activist, who was shot and killed on Sept. 10.

Kolvet argued that Kirk would have wanted the episode to remain on air, noting that he "loved" being featured in the long-running show. 

"Hey @paramountplus, as someone who can speak with some authority on this, Charlie loved that he was featured in South Park. He told me many times," Kolvet wrote on X.

Comedy Central pulled the episode from its cable rotation hours after Kirk was shot and killed while speaking to students at Utah Valley University. Kirk, the co-founder of Turning Point USA, leaves behind a wife and two children.

Kolvet urged Paramount, which owns Comedy Central, to reinstate the episode, saying it carried personal meaning for Kirk.

"He would want the episode back up," he wrote.

A Paramount spokesperson said the episode would not be airing on Comedy Central's linear rotation but noted it is still available on demand and on Paramount+.

Though a man of God, Brantley Gilbert is struggling with faith and forgiveness following the assassination of Charlie Kirk. 

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, the country star opened up about the "anger" he feels following Kirk's "senseless" murder and explained why he's finding it difficult to show grace during these trying times. 

"I'll be honest, I'm trying to try to be a little careful. My wife sent me back to church and stuff, and I can say Charlie was an encouraging figure in this chapter of my life, and I'm trying to get back into that," Gilbert said. "My wife is a lot more steadfast in her faith and shows a lot more grace than me. I'm angry man, I'm still angry."

"I know my belief in Christianity encourages me to show love and show that to my brothers and sisters, and I'm having a hard time with that right now," he continued. "I've always been one to try to keep my platform geared towards supporting active duty members, veterans, kids. We really try to keep our messages positive."

Fox News' Larry Fink contributed to this report.

Tyler Robinson appears virtually in Utah court on Sept. 16, 2025, to face charges in the assassination of Charlie Kirk. (Utah State Courts)

Thirty-three hours after Charlie Kirk was gunned down at Utah Valley University, the suspect’s parents walked with him into a sheriff’s office. 

The dramatic manhunt, marked by rooftop clues and a rifle inscribed with meme-like taunts, unfolded with investigators racing to track a gunman in real time.

"Tyler knew it was just inevitable with all the law enforcement pressure," Washington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby said after the surrender in a news conference. "He knew it was inevitable that he would be caught."

Here is a detailed look at what prosecutors describe as the 33 hours between the shot that killed Kirk and the moment his accused assassin surrendered to authorities.

Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk is seen at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, Sept. 10, before being shot. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune via Reuters)

Top Christian worship singers Chris Tomlin, Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham, Kari Jobe Carnes and Cody Carnes are set to perform Sunday at Charlie Kirk’s memorial service at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. 

The event, which will begin at 2 p.m. ET, also will feature speeches from Erika Kirk – Charlie's widow – President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. 

“Though our hearts are heavy, we do not grieve as those without hope. Charlie’s legacy endures in his family, in Turning Point USA and Turning Point Action, and in the millions he inspired to live with conviction,” reads a description of the event on its website.  

“We honor him not only with our words, but with our actions. We will move forward together, fighting harder, standing taller, and refusing to surrender,” it added. 

Well-wishers add to a makeshift memorial set up at Turning Point USA headquarters on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in Phoenix, Ariz. (AP/Ross D. Franklin)

A Chicago suburb appeared divided over whether to honor Charlie Kirk at the high school he once attended. 

The debate came up during a Thursday meeting for High School District 214, which includes Wheeling High School, Kirk’s alma mater, according to WLS-TV. 

The news station reported that two Change.org petitions are circulating about honoring the conservative activist at the school. One petition is in favor of doing so, while the other is not. 

"I cannot support my daughter's school system honoring a man who spread such regressive, sexist, and harmful messages," local resident Fay Costa was quoted by WLS as saying during the board meeting. "My daughter's education is not up for debate." 

A supporter of the memorial, Steve Byle, said to WLS, "What rationale could they possibly have for not wanting to recognize an alumnus of their school who has had more profound impact on our country's direction than anyone in his generation?" 

Superintendent Scott Rowe told the station, "While we continue to extend our deepest condolences to Charlie Kirk's family and friends for this terrible and senseless loss, we will not hold a district-wide memorial as that would disrupt the learning environment at our schools."

“Instead, we encourage students, faculty, staff, and families to mourn and remember Charlie Kirk together at one of the many public services and vigils that are being organized throughout the community,” he added. 

The last person to interview Charlie Kirk on the morning of Sept. 10, before he was assassinated at Utah Valley University, told “FOX & Friends” that “you could hear a pin drop” when the audience was informed he was shot. 

Andrew Smith, the managing partner of the Savory Fund, said Friday that he interviewed Kirk at the “Restaurantology” summit in Salt Lake City “very close” to the time he was struck by a bullet about 40 minutes away in Orem, Utah. 

“We went out and told them, there [were] gasps in the audience, you could hear a pin drop. It was very, very quiet,” Smith recalled. “But it was sobering too because you’re like, ‘he was just here’... he was so light-hearted and fun, unifying. It just felt so good in that auditorium. The energy was great. And when he left, he was on top of life.” 

Smith said he spoke to Kirk for about 35 minutes in front of a live audience before Kirk left with his security to head to Utah Valley University.

“If you are going through the worst of times, this too shall pass, and things are going to get better. If you are going through the best of times though, it’s really humbling, like, this too shall pass and this will fade away, cause this will not last forever,” Kirk told Smith during one point of their conversation, which highlighted entrepreneurship and faith. 

“It’s a time-transcendent truth that applies towards all periods as an entrepreneur. It humbles you when you need it and builds you up when you need it, gives you hope when you need it and also gives you a little bit of a dose of a gut-check,” Kirk added. 

State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., home of the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, is seen prior to the upcoming memorial service for political activist Charlie Kirk. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Charlie Kirk’s memorial event Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., will have Super Bowl-level security, reports said. 

“The U.S. Secret Service has been designated as the Federal Coordinator for this effort. Our teams are already on the ground in Phoenix and Glendale, working side-by-side with state, local, and federal partners,” William Mack, the special agent in charge of Secret Service’s Phoenix field office, was quoted as telling NewsNation. “Together, we are fully committed to ensuring that these solemn events receive the comprehensive protection and support they require.” 

A senior Homeland Security official told The Hill that the department designated the memorial service for Kirk as a “Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level 1 event.” 

“This designation is reserved for events of the highest national significance and enables the federal government to provide the full range of law enforcement and security resources necessary to support local officials in ensuring a safe and successful event,” the official said.   

Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance are among the scheduled speakers on Sunday. 

People light the flashlights of their mobile phones as they attend a vigil hosted by Turning Point USA for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Colorado State University, on what was supposed be the next stop on his speaking tour, on Thursday, Sept. 18. (Reuters/Cheney Orr)

Thousands gathered Thursday at Colorado State University in Fort Collins for the second scheduled stop in Charlie Kirk’s “The American Comeback Tour.”

Posters with the message “In Memory of Charlie Kirk” were set up on stage for the event, which unfolded at Canvas Stadium.

Images captured attendees holding up their phones with their flashlights on, in memory of Kirk, during a moment of silence.

One guest was photographed passing a sign that said “I Am Charlie Kirk” to another attendee in the crowd. 

An American flag hangs over the site where conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley University last week, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in Orem, Utah. (AP/Jesse Bedayn)

Utah Valley University is holding a “Vigil for Unity” Friday in honor of Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated at its Orem campus on Sept. 10. 

The indoor event is set to take place at 6 p.m. ET at the UCCU Center, and “will provide a space for students, faculty, staff, and community members to come together in remembering, healing, and reaffirming shared values,” the university said. 

“This attack was not just on an individual, but on the spirit of free expression, civil discourse, and intellectual inquiry that sits at the very foundation of our university,” Astrid Tuminez, the president of Utah Valley University, said in a statement. “The violence that occurred on our campus has shaken us deeply. We remain steadfast in our commitment to learning, dialogue, and the values that unite us, even in times of grief. Together we choose hope for the future, and care for each other during this time.” 

“The Vigil for Unity is open to the public. UVU encourages all who attend to come in the spirit of peace, reflection, and mutual support,” the university added. 

(Getty Images)

Two people were arrested on Thursday at a vigil in Boston for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, as hundreds honored the Turning Point USA co-founder and advocated against political violence.

Joseph Antuan Castro Del Rio, 38, was arrested on disorderly conduct charges, according to WCVB. A juvenile male was also arrested on assault and battery charges, as well as a charge for possession of a dangerous weapon, as police said he had a knife at the time of the arrest.

A group of protesters was separated from the crowd of Kirk supporters by metal barriers, leading to some shouting, the outlet reported. The event was guarded by police who were stationed on the ground and on top of the statehouse.

Several attendees of the vigil condemned political violence in the wake of Kirk's murder last week in Utah.

"Political violence is never okay. You can agree to disagree. Ending someone’s life is never okay," Samantha DiGiacomo said at the event, according to WCVB.

Christian apologist and author Frank Turek was just feet away when Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University. In a new podcast episode, he recounted the Sept. 10 shooting and the frantic rush to the hospital where doctors pronounced the 31-year-old dead.

Kirk first reached out to Turek years ago for mentorship in Christian apologetics, Turek said in the podcast, "The Greatness of Charlie Kirk: An Eyewitness Account of His Life and Martyrdom."

Their relationship blossomed, with Turek saying he came to consider Kirk a son.

On the morning of the event, Turek joined Kirk's team on the car ride to Utah Valley University, discussing potential student questions and fine-tuning answers.

After making a quick stop to speak to a local entrepreneur group, the team arrived at the outdoor venue, and Kirk began taking photos with supporters and tossing hats into the large, energetic crowd.

Though Turek told Kirk he was concerned about the large number of nearby buildings and the safety risk they could pose, he said Kirk seemed confident in his private security and the local police detail.

Eager to share the excitement, Turek FaceTimed family members as he stood about 30 feet to Kirk's right. He explained that during a question about transgender violence, he heard a single shot and watched as Kirk fell backward.