With prayers, hymns and personal testimonies, Turning Point USA at UF led a vigil to remember Charlie Kirk, the organization’s founder who was killed on Wednesday.
Kirk, 31, visited UF in February and set up at the Plaza of the Americas. Though he never finished college, Kirk became famous for camping on campuses and debating anyone who’d approach the microphone. He quickly became a leading right-wing figure, speaking at the Republican National Convention at 24 years old.
UF police officers watched at the corners of the plaza as 150 to 200 attendees, predominantly students, gathered. The group remembered Kirk as a cornerstone of their conservative beliefs, especially for Gen Z.
One student called Kirk a future presidential contender; another shouted out that “they” couldn’t get President Donald Trump, so they got Kirk, referencing the assassination attempt from July 2024.
Jennifer Garcia, president of the UF chapter of Turning Point USA, said Kirk believed in dialogue to prevent violence and keep American from civil war.
“Charlie believed in open forum discussions, and he gave everyone the opportunity to voice their opinions, regardless of their political views,” Garcia said. “He will go down as a martyr for this movement. Because of Charlie, many of us found the strength to speak out and voice our opinions.”
Kirk also spoke loudly about his faith, mingling his religion with his Republican mindset and calling himself a Christian nationalist.
UF students, from third-year students to first-semester freshman and one 1980s graduate, spoke about Kirk’s impact. He was called a mentor and martyr, and students encouraged each other to be like Kirk to families and friends.
Speakers focused on his Christian beliefs. Prayer cards with Kirk’s photo on the front quoted Ephesians 6, which tells Christians to put on the full armor of God. Another sign contained a passage from John: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
With a lone guitar as accompaniment, the group sang “Amazing Grace” and “Holy Spirit, You Are Welcome Here.”
Now at The Leadership Institute, Noelle Mattiace worked for Turning Point USA and called it a family that extends to the students at the vigil.
“So, seeing all of you here tonight, I mean, what a family and community that we have here,” Mattiace said.
At the end of the event, Mattiace encouraged students to not be silent. She said media stories might make it seem like the group gathered is in the minority, but she said the UF students at the vigil and like-minded Americans are the majority.
She said students need to talk with each other and turn to campus groups for help, especially with First Amendment issues that Turning Point USA emphasized.
“A few people have mentioned up here censorship in the classroom coming from professors,” Mattiace said. “I know that every student here is going to struggle with that at one point or another. Come talk to us. Do not suffer in silence.”
The group ended with a U-S-A chant before slowly dispersing.
Kirk and Turning Point USA focused on campus freedoms, and he was a critic of America’s current higher education system. The organization keeps a watchlist of professors accused of bringing wokeness into classrooms or stifling dialogue, including four at UF.
After his death, threats of violence have cropped up at universities and colleges. Several campuses closed, and the University of Central Florida also received a threat that was discredited.
Trump issued an order for flags to remain at half-staff past 9/11 and until sunset on Saturday in honor of Kirk. Gov. Ron DeSantis affirmed the action and ordered Florida state flags to follow suit.
