UF’s chapter of Turning Level USA organized a one-year anniversary vigil for conservative political activist and TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk. The vigil drew in a crowd of about 150 supporters, opponents and neutrals.

Kirk was fatally shot Sept. 10, 2025, whereas talking at Utah Valley College as a part of his faculty talking tour. He left behind his spouse, Erika, and two younger daughters.

Mikey Andre, a UF finance junior and the president of UF Faculty Republicans, stated he seen Kirk as an “everyman.”

“Everybody sensical type of noticed a pleasant, regular man get shot for very merely voicing his opinions,” he stated. “They noticed the demise of a person that was similar to them, who had youngsters, household.”

He stated Kirk will most likely be remembered as one of many greatest conservative commentators of Era Z, including his homicide solely amplified his legacy.

“Most, I’m completely happy to say, had been empathetic, even those that disagreed,” Andre stated. “However a really, very loud minority, dare I say … a rising minority, had a really nihilistic method to his demise.”

The vigil

Small circles of attendees slowly fashioned within the hour main as much as the 8:30 p.m. vigil, rising as a crowd of largely college students populated the house in entrance of Library West.

Police presence was heavy, with a number of UFPD officers patrolling the perimeter of the Plaza of the Americas at each nook. At the very least 5 squad vehicles had been additionally close by.

UF Turning Level President and junior political science pupil Jordan Freeman spoke to the gang about how Kirk’s go to to UF within the months prior to his demise impacted her. 

The group’s Vice President and junior animal sciences pupil Sara Boatman then led the group in singing worship songs, together with “Graves into Gardens” and “Holy Perpetually.” 5 minutes into the efficiency, nevertheless, a circle of roughly 15 individuals behind the principle crowd started a efficiency of their very own.

Sundro David, a 19-year-old UF linguistics pupil, had introduced a cello to the occasion and started to play. After David discovered his rhythm, one other pupil with a synthesizer joined him.

Moments later, the small crowd started loudly singing “We’re Charlie Kirk,” an AI-generated tune initially meant to pay tribute to Kirk, however that’s now largely used to mock him on social media.

The sounds from each circles clashed, and every efficiency grew louder.

“I wished to come back collectively and, regardless of our variations, have a superb time,” David stated about his motivation for bringing a cello to the vigil.

Although it’s unhappy Kirk died, he stated he didn’t ship a superb message to impressionable youth on social media.

“He particularly focused faculty campuses, the place individuals are clearly a little bit silly,” David stated. “That’s the purpose of going to school, to get smarter.”

As different audio system took turns addressing the vigil’s viewers, the gang diminished to about half of its authentic measurement, with the devoted vigil goers largely staying and the opponents of Kirk dispersing.

However about 10 minutes after the unique “We’re Charlie Kirk” efficiency ended, one other particular person arrived with a trumpet to play alongside, persevering with the efficiency. Roughly 7 renditions of the tune had been then performed, and about 60 attendees alternated between singing alongside and fascinating in banter.

Andre, the UF Faculty Republicans president, delivered the ultimate speech of the night time, protecting the life and legacy of Kirk, his killer’s destiny, the political proper and left, Gen Z conservatives and religion.

“What we combat in opposition to is just pure, unadulterated, visceral, nihilistic hatred,” Andre stated. “That’s the place we stand.”

He stated the individuals who celebrated Kirk’s demise are “inhuman scum that need to be solid out of society.”

“They don’t belong with the civilized, however with the crooked and depraved that insurgent of their destitution of compassion and empathy,” he stated.

As vigil attendees stand collectively in solemnity and honor a person who wished to be remembered by one factor – his religion in Jesus Christ – Andre stated they’ll await the day Kirk’s killer is rotting in jail or sentenced to demise. 

An viewers member shouted in settlement, and the gang’s applause adopted earlier than Andre requested the gang to look at a second of silence, prayer and reflection in honor of Kirk.

Pupil reactions

Catalina Reichard, a 19-year previous philosophy, politics, economics and legislation sophomore, attended the vigil in assist of Kirk. Although not a fan till after his demise, she stated she felt compelled to hitch his motion after celebrations over his demise ensued. 

“From the second it occurred, I knew the response was madness,” she stated. “I imply this can be a man who was a sufferer of political violence, and if somebody on the left was killed at a rally, I’d be mourning that particular person.” 

Whereas she believes the vigil performs an vital position in standing up in opposition to political violence, she additionally attended to acknowledge the loss Kirk’s household skilled.

“I feel it’s vital to come back out right here and bear in mind him for who he was to so many individuals. He was a father, a husband and tremendous vital for the conservative second,” she stated. “And you recognize, only a human being.”

Dimitris Liveris, a 20-year-old UF sociology junior, attended the vigil in opposition to Kirk. 

He stated he additionally attended Kirk’s “American Comeback Tour,” at Plaza of the Americas Feb. 28, 2025, afterward saying he couldn’t assist Kirk for bashing a UF historical past professor who took the stage to debate the historic parallels of President Donald Trump’s administration in the course of the debate.

The UF Faculty Republicans posted a video of the Democratic Socialists of America singing alongside to “We’re Charlie Kirk” on the vigil, wherein Liveris is pictured, on the group’s Instagram.

“I may by no means discover myself supporting somebody whose complete livelihood is constructed round humiliating individuals, particularly in ways in which didn’t even have any validity,” Liveris stated.

The group had largely dispersed by 10 p.m.

Contact Christian Haas at chaas@alligator.org. Observe him on X @ChristianH58745.

Contact Ellia Mytsa at emytsa@alligator.org. Observe her on X @elliamytsa.