Prayers, candles, flags, flowers, signs, singing – all in tribute to slain Turning Point USA Founder and conservative Christian activist Charlie Kirk. Tributes have been held across Alabama since the Wednesday assassination.
When they heard of the tragedy, many Alabamians immediately began planning tributes and vigils in memory of Kirk’s life and work.
Typical of Alabama people, they did not wait to seek permission from anyone but forged ahead on their own initiative to set up memorial events.
The Alabama events were truly grassroots events from the ground up.
Auburn
A spirited vigil was held at Auburn University on Friday. Hundreds of students gathered.
One of the speakers was a freshman at Auburn, Brilyn Hollyhand. He is a 19-year-old political commentator, author of “One Generation Away: Why Now is the Time to Restore American Freedom”, and host of “The Brilyn Hollyhand Show.” He is a frequent guest on Fox and Friends and other talk shows — as well as a close, personal friend of Kirk, who he describes as a “mentor”
Hollyhand told the crowd of mostly Auburn students:
“You can kill a man, but you cannot kill a movement. This week, a coward assassinated my friend.
“He attempted to shut us up, but I think that tonight is living proof that boy, he only woke us up. We’re seeing revival, not just political, but spiritual, and it’s way more impactful than winning at the ballot box.”
Wetumpka
A somber crowd of over 500 was organized by Ashley Carter, president of the new Republican Women of Elmore County. They gathered Sunday evening at the historic Elmore County Courthouse in Wetumpka.
Carter said that Kirk “wasn’t just a public figure — he was an inspiration.”
“Tonight, we gather to remember a man who lived with his priorities in the right order. Charlie Kirk put God first then his family, and then he faithfully worked the mission field that God entrusted to him. His mission was to speak truth, to inspire courage, and to call people to live boldly in their faith. He carried out that mission with strength, joy, conviction until his very last day.”
U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) said Kirk was part of a “spiritual battle for the future of this nation.”
“He was just speaking love. He was doing it with a smile on his face. He was reaching human beings who thought they were beyond reach, but he would do it with truth, and he would do it with love.”
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said, “Charlie Kirk was doing exactly what he wanted to do, exercising that fundamental right to express his opinions, but more importantly to proclaim the Gospel to all that were there.”
“This wasn’t an act of an individual that took his life through assassination. This was an act of the devil and let’s call it that. This is spiritual warfare, and it is directly targeting those of us of faith.”
Huntsville area
A group of mostly students gathered in Huntsville Thursday at the University of Alabama at Huntsville. The prayer vigil was organized by the UAH branch of Turning Point USA.
A downtown candlelight vigil was held in Big Spring Park on Friday night. Dozens gathered with candles and flowers.
On Sunday, a memorial gathering hosted by the Tennessee Valley Republican Club included prayers, tributes, and remarks urging support for campus groups like TPUSA.
Mobile Area
A vigil was held Friday night in Mobile’s Hackmeyer Park.
Baldwin County
Heritage Park in Foley was the site of a vigil for Charlie Kirk Saturday night. Local pastors called on the community to come together and continue spreding God’s message to young people, continuing the work of Kirk and his Turning Point USA.
The vigil was organized by Dakota Spann. He streamed the video of widow Ericka Kirk’s message.
University of Alabama
Over 100 came to historic Denny Chimes on the University of Alabama campus for a vigil to honor Kirk’s life.
“Even if you disagreed with him, and I disagreed with him on a lot of things, still — no one deserves to die like that,” said UA Young Americans for Freedom Chairman Trenton Buffenbarger. “He had a family. He had kids. No one deserves to die like that.”
Dawson Duncan, a freshman at UA, says Kirk’s movement made a big impact on college campuses and college students all across the country. He hopes this will be a turning point for both sides to come together.
“Political violence has no place in America. This country was founded on the idea of Freedom of Speech and we should all honor that. Charlie Kirk died doing what he loved and should anybody ever die that way? No, but you have to respect the man for all that he did and the way that he went out. He went out doing what he loved.”
State Chair of the Young Republican Federation of Alabama Stephanie Petelos Nabavian said:
“I don’t care who you are, what side of the aisle you are, what your opinions are, if you disagree with everything Charlie Kirk has ever said, you can take three minutes to pray for his family and to consider that this is not the solution,” she said. “I hope people will open their eyes and see that there is a harsh, scary divide in where this country is headed right now – I don’t think is where anybody wants it to be going.”
A rally will be held near the UA campus on Wednesday, Sept. 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. It is organized by CJ Pearson and features Savannah Chrisley, co-star of the “Chrisley Knows Best” family. It is free for students and $15 for adults. All funds will benefit Ericka Kirk and her children. It will be at Two Dimes Bama, 1301 University Blvd, Tuscaloosa.
The title of the event is: “WE ARE ALL CHARLIE KIRK.”
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The message of Charlie Kirk will continue to resonate across the nation, and loudly in the Bible-Belt state of Alabama.
Jim Zig Zeigler is a contributing writer for Yellowhammer News. His beat includes the positive and colorful about Alabama – her people, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former State Auditor and Public Service Commissioner. You can reach him at [email protected]
