On Sept. 11, the Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapter at CMU hosted a candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk, a recently deceased political activist. An estimated group of over 100 students and community members gathered on Elm Quad to commemorate his life. The ceremony also paid tribute to the victims of 9/11.

Originally, the vigil intended to solely honor those who passed on 9/11. However, on Sept. 10, during a visit by Kirk to Utah Valley University, a person suddenly shot him with a fatal bullet wound. He was debating audience member Hunter Kozak about mass shootings in the United States when this occurred.

This unexpected event garnered international attention, and caused TPUSA to quickly organize. Student Life and Student Servicesʼ professional staff members assisted TPUSA with equipment for the vigil. Members of CMU Marketing were also present.

With an increased police presence in the University Center (UC), a police car parked by the Plaza and local news station KREX filming, the event garnered attention from several students passing by Elm Quad.

“So, we’re all here because we were interested and walking out of The Caf. A gentleman over there said there was a candlelight service,” said Benson White, a mechanical engineering freshman. “We wanted to pay our respects to someone who was very influential in the world and made an impact, whether people liked him or not.”

Some students also primarily attended the event to commemorate 9/11.

“I’m here because of 9/11,” said Gavin Goike, a sophomore fire science major. “I’m getting my fire science degree, so 9/11 means something to me, and I want to support the firefighters that passed away.”

When students entered the vigil, large signs with TPUSA slogans, such as “GOD > GOV,” were visible on the ground. Mounted on a metal frame nearby was a photograph of Kirk. Other tables featured wearable buttons with different TPUSA slogans, including “Your Future, Your Vote.”

Across from the entrance, many attendees slipped their cash into a donation bucket, with these proceeds going towards the TPUSA chapter in Grand Junction. Near the donation bucket were candles that attendees could light to honor Kirk.

TPUSA spoke with students who displayed any interest in joining the club, making sure browsing attendees knew about the chapter’s Presence page. Presence is a software student clubs can use to schedule their events and contact membership. 

Recruitment of this nature persisted throughout the night from TPUSA. These organizational efforts also received verbal acknowledgement during the chapter’s vigil speech.

“Every meeting we have, every tabling we set up, every conversation we start, it all adds up to something greater,” said Jason Bias, the former president of TPUSA. “We remember the criticism Charlie faced everyday and his constant drive to invest in us: his students and the next generation.”

In the near future, Bias is planning to run for the House of Representatives. His speech at the vigil praised Kirk’s work as a prominent conservative activist and TPUSA’s co-founder.

“Charlie’s vision, through Turning Point USA, gives students across the country, and at CMU, the opportunity to speak up,” said Bias. “To challenge the mainstream narrative, to lead with faith and facts. And for many of us, that has been life changing.”

Students and community members assisted each other in lighting their candles. Once this process began, Bias called for a moment of silence in Kirk’s honor and recited a Bible passage from memory.

Kirk publicly identified as a Christian during his lifetime, and TPUSA is a Christian organization by proxy. Additionally, Bias deemed Kirk a “prophet” following the moment of silence.

Kirk also posited Christian moral values throughout his career in political activism. As a result, Christian supporters primarily gathered for the vigil’s processions. He believed Christianity was necessary to the national prosperity of the U.S.

Kirk subsequently expressed that other religious beliefs, such as those under the Islamic umbrella, were dangerous to national growth. Kirk discussed this aspect of his political stance on April 30, 2025 as a part of The Charlie Kirk Show.

“America has freedom of religion, of course, but we should be frank: large dedicated Islamic areas are a threat to America,” said Kirk. “Islam has conquest values [and] Europe is now a conquered continent. It is not what it used to be. It’s a husk of its former self, which is increasingly Mohammedan.”

TPUSA closed the evening with further references to Christian moral values. The crowd also began singing “Amazing Grace” after Bias’ speech

“Let tonight be more than just a tribute to lives lost, let it be a reminder that our role in this spiritual movement is urgent and our voices are needed. God bless you all, God bless America, and you all have a wonderful night,” said Bias.

Following the speech, Bias and TPUSA’s current president and vice president declined to comment.

As the vigil concluded, students and community members continued discussing Kirk’s impact and lighting one another’s candles. They remembered his willingness to discuss controversial subjects and debate others.

“Charlie was a wonderful man who spoke the truth and let other people argue with him, peacefully,” said community member Lisa Fry. “It is funny how much he mattered, considering I didn’t know him personally.”