Hundreds gather for Charlie Kirk vigil at UNCW
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Nearly a week after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed on a college campus in Utah, the UNCW amphitheater was packed as hundreds of community members came out to honor Kirk’s life and legacy.
The UNCW College Republicans and UNCW’s chapter of Turning Point USA, the organization where Kirk was executive director, organized the vigil.
Peyton Steele is the president of UNCW’s Turning Point USA chapter.
She said Kirk’s death is not the end of his impact on the world.
“Together, we commit ourselves to the vision that Charlie dedicated his life to,” Steele said. “Let us stand united tonight in both prayer and purpose as we honor him. If I’ve learned anything from this week, you can kill a man, but you can not kill a movement.”
Among the crowd were several area political leaders, including New Hanover County Commissioner Dane Scalise, Wilmington City Councilman Luke Waddell, District Attorney Jason Smith, and New Hanover County School Board member Pete Wildeboer.
Canon Lang, a freshman at UNCW, said Kirk’s death will inspire a new generation of Christians.
“Because of his passing, more people are rising up,” Lang said. “And I think that because the persecution that it’s just going to rise what his beliefs were. I believe Christianity will grow and people will get stronger in their beliefs and stand up more. And I think that’s really important.”
Attendee Tiffany Norris said it also meant a lot that this vigil came after UNCW College Republicans and Democrats released a joint statement last week, condemning Kirk’s death.
“It shows their humanity that they have a heart,” Norris said. “Those people who can not come to terms with the fact that this was a human life, whether they disagreed with him or not, the people that are celebrating his death and making this a mockery is just unacceptable. No human being should deserve that.”
A memorial service for Kirk will be held on September 21st at State Farm Stadium, home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.
