Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk leaves a legacy that was honored and commemorated by thousands at the Kennedy Center on Sunday, many of whom plan to continue his work.
The vigil was packed from row to row with attendees seeking to honor Kirk four days after he was shot and killed on a college campus in Utah. Attendees like Zane Pipkin, wearing a shirt embroidered with “1776” and 13 stars, called Kirk’s murder “horrible,” and said it “could’ve been anyone” who chooses to stand for their beliefs.
“Well, it set a fire in us. We want to do better, be better, and not just for our country, our family, for God, and so that’s why we’re here,” Pipkin told the Washington Examiner.
Naomi Seibt, a German political activist, told the Washington Examiner Kirk has been “a very big inspiration” for her, praising his approach to speak to “everyone.” She also praised Kirk as “a fighter for free speech,” and said she is inspired by his advocacy for free speech since debate in Germany and Europe “has been shut down.”
“And now our state media actually defamed Charlie Kirk, completely misrepresented him, took him out of context, even used completely false quotes, and then this is how they brainwash millions of Germans. Give them a false impression that it’s OK to harm people that just want to stand for free speech. And instead they accuse them of being far-right Nazis, essentially, which is obviously not what we stand for,” Seibt told the Washington Examiner.
“So today I’m here because I’m grieving too, and I want to show my respect for Charlie Kirk and his family,” Seibt said.
Nick Meisher said he and his wife are immigrants born in “Communist countries,” and said Kirk wanted to reverse the “sinking” caused by “the Left” in the United States. He added his wife cried “for two days” after Kirk was murdered, and said he is still “in shock.”
Meisher also said he hopes younger people will continue to be steered toward “religion and common sense” over the “indoctrination that’s happening right now from kindergarten all the way to college.”
River Francella, a George Washington University student, said he looked up to Kirk as someone who is “conservative,” and called Kirk’s murder “truly atrocious.” Michael Brown, another GWU student, praised Kirk’s speeches and debating skills, saying his talking points “resonated well” with him.
“I would say, like, right now, an important thing is to not roll over and to keep doing what he did, because I feel like in today’s day and age, especially with what happened in Wednesday, it’s so important to have actual debate with people and not resort to violence,” Brown said.
JOE CONCHA SAYS US WILL ‘GO RIGHT BACK’ TO SAME POLITICAL DISCOURSE AFTER CHARLIE KIRK’S DEATH
Kirk’s widow, Erika, said Friday she will continue her late husband’s work on Turning Point USA. She said this will include continuing the campus tour he was on as well as his radio and podcast show.
CNBC Squawk Box co-host Joe Kernen said President Donald Trump was “devastated” over Kirk’s death during a phone call on Thursday. He also said Trump believed Kirk “could’ve been president someday.”
