On Sept. 11, a candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk, a recently deceased political activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA was hosted by the Turning Point USA chapter at CMU (TPUSA-CMU). An estimated group of over 100 students and community members gathered on the Elm Quad to commemorate his life. The ceremony also paid tribute to the victims of 9/11.
The vigil was originally intended to solely honor the victims of 9/11. However, on Sept. 10, during a visit to Utah Valley University, Kirk was shot with a fatal bullet wound to the neck. He had been debating audience member Hunter Kozak about mass shootings in the US when this occurred.
Kirk’s assassination garnered international attention and TPUSA-CMU quickly reorganized the event in response. Student Life and Student Services professional staff assisted 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.
“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 mechanical engineer freshman Benson White. “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 attended the event primarily to commemorate 9/11.
“I’m here because of 9/11,” sophomore fire science major Gavin Goike said. “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 people entered the vigil, large signs with TPUSA slogans, such as “GOD > GOV” were displayed. A photograph of Kirk was mounted on a metal stand. Other tables offered 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 TPUSA-CMU. Near the donation bucket were candles that attendees could light to honor Kirk.
TPUSA-CMU spoke with students who displayed any interest to make sure they knew how to join the chapter.
Recruitment of this nature persisted throughout the night from TPUSA-CMU. These organizational efforts also received verbal acknowledgement during the vigil speech.
“Every meeting we have, every tabling we set up, every conversation we start, it all adds up to something greater,” former president of TPUSA-CMU Jason Bias said. “We remember the criticism Charlie faced everyday and his constant drive to invest in us: his students and the next generation.”
Bias plans to run for representative of House District 54 in the Colorado State Legislature in 2026. This will be his third time running for public office. His speech 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,” Bias said. “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 passage from the Bible.
Kirk publicly expressed his faith as a Christian, 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. In turn, Christian supporters primarily gathered for the vigil’s processions. He believed Christianity was necessary to the national prosperity of the country.
Kirk said that other religious beliefs, such as those under the Islamic umbrella, were dangerous. Kirk discussed this on April 30, 2025 as a part of his podcast “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,” Kirk said. “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-CMU closed the evening with the crowd 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,” Bias said.
Following the speech, Bias and TPUSA-CMU’s current president, James Ruhemann and vice president, Logan Jochim, declined to make any comments for the Criterion.
As the vigil concluded, students and community members continued to discuss Kirk’s impact and light candles. They remembered his willingness to address controversial subjects and debate others.
“Charlie was a wonderful man who spoke the truth and let other people argue with him, peacefully,” community member Lisa Fry said. “It is funny how much he mattered, considering I didn’t know him personally.”
