Hundreds of Penn State students, faculty and community members gathered on Old Main Lawn Thursday evening for a candlelight vigil in remembrance of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Kirk was shot and killed the previous day while speaking at Utah Valley University. A suspect was taken into custody on Friday and authorities said he will be charged with capital murder.
The vigil, organized by Penn State’s College Republicans and the university’s chapter of Turning Point USA — the group Kirk founded in 2012 — began at 7 p.m. on Old Main lawn, shortly after a 9/11 memorial service.
Many attendees carried candles or wore MAGA hats, with framed photographs of Kirk placed near the podium alongside two small U.S. flags.
The half-hour ceremony included prayers, songs and speeches from student leaders and elected state officials. Pastor Andy Hendry of Alliance Christian Fellowship led the gathering in prayers throughout the vigil, while the crowd sang “America the Beautiful” and “Amazing Grace,” led by Janae Chaas. A moment of silence closed the vigil at 7:30 p.m.
Kirk, 31, visited Penn State several times over the past decade, most recently in September 2024, when he gave out MAGA hats to the crowd and registered voters during an outdoor event in which the microphone was turned off by the university because Turning Point did not have permission for sound amplification
Tristin Kilgore, a third-year political science student and president of College Republicans at University Park, described Kirk as someone who excelled at fostering free speech — even with those who opposed him.
“He would let anyone walk up there, whether they were to the right of him, whether they were to the left of him, whether they agreed with everything,” Kilgore recalled. “He would take their questions, he would talk with them (and) he would have a respectful conversation with them.”
Kilgore said that Kirk’s willingness to engage contributed to greater bipartisan cooperation at Penn State, noting that his visits helped draw larger turnouts at campus events.
Known for his provocative statements, Kirk was often lauded by the right for his views and commitment to speaking out, and derided by critics who said he promoted false claims on a range of issues and discriminatory perspectives about Black, immigrant and LGBTQ communities .
Kilgore disagreed with the latter.
“It’s truly sad because if you ever listen to what he was saying, he was not promoting hate,” Kilgore said. “That kind of rhetoric — painting the opposition as hateful, evil people trying to destroy you or destroy the country — has caused immense tragedy like what happened to Charlie Kirk, and like what happened here in Pennsylvania to President Trump.”
For students like Kilgore, Kirk’s death came as a shock.
“I couldn’t believe it was true,” Kilgore told StateCollege.com. “I mean, you know, we’ve seen countless times this year these hoaxes where people call in about a shooting or bomb threat, and it’s just really horrible. I didn’t think it was true, I didn’t think it could happen. When Charlie came here a year ago and we were all down there [on HUB Lawn] listening to him speak, helping with the event, we never thought something like this would happen.
“It’s truly tragic and truly something that is beyond imagination for someone who’s not even a politician. He’s just a guy out here trying to start conversations and trying to help people learn and develop and inspire young people.”
The College Republicans and Turning Point, Kilgore said, held the vigil to “honor this legacy of starting open dialogue.”
State Sen. Cris Dush, R-Pine Creek Township, also spoke, praising Kirk’s influence on young voters. Standing at the podium with a white candle and MAGA hat, Dush said Kirk’s message resonated with students across Pennsylvania.
“I have been watching (Kirk) for years, and when he started coming to the universities, I started seeing the impact that he was having on other young people (and) I was so encouraged for this country,” Dush said. “I’ve served in the military. I’ve been overseas. I’ve been in Iraq and all over the northern hemisphere, and I’ve seen the blessings that we have in this country … and Charlie was speaking about what makes America unique (and) what makes America special.”
Incoming president of Turning Point’s Penn State chapter and sophomore Alexandra Barnes took the podium ahead of Kilgore’s closing remarks.
“Charlie reminds me that we must keep talking,” Barnes said. “I always enjoyed seeing the way childhood things were debated with humor, class and intelligence. He was never afraid to speak the facts, even when it wasn’t what people wanted to hear… Charlie brought together so many young Americans across the country and created a sense of unity among an age group divided by the ever polarizing social need. He saw us not as dumb and unemployed, but as the future of America…He worked tirelessly to share his cause throughout the nation.”
As the candles burned down and the crowd dispersed into the night, Dush said he saw reasons for optimism despite the tragedy.
“What I’m seeing from the students at Penn State is giving me encouragement as a state senator and also somebody who has put my life on the line for this country,” he said. “It’s giving me a lot of encouragement for the future.”
