Charlie Kirk vigil held in Spokane, hundreds honor conservative activist’s life

By Lucille Stutesman | FāVS News Reporter

When Gonzaga student Shea Thompson heard that conservative activist Charlie Kirk had been shot and killed, he did not believe it.

“It didn’t seem real,” he said. “When I saw it, and it was confirmed, my heart just dropped, because that was shot at all of us.”

Thompson had met Kirk several times, at America Fest in Arizona, then again over in Tampa, Florida. He is also the president of the Turning Point chapter at Gonzaga University, which was founded last year.

Thompson was one of the over 1,000 people who flooded Franklin Park during Sunday’s downpour in Spokane to pay respects to Kirk. He was also one of the speakers.

“Where he dropped that microphone, go there and pick it up, because then his message never dies,” Thompson said.

Like Thompson, Spokane County Young Republicans President Enrique Rico was in disbelief when he heard Kirk had been killed.

“I was at work, and I was completely taken aback and shocked. It probably took until the next day for reality to even set in and for me to process it,” he said. “My first thought was, no way, that can’t be real. And I was in denial for a little bit, until I saw that horrible video, and it was heart wrenching.”

Rico was also one of the speakers at the event and read a passage from Timothy 4.

“I tried to put together a speech myself, but I was really struggling to find a message that would resonate with the individuals, especially the youth. So, then I opened my Bible, and I started reading,” he said. “I stumbled upon Timothy, and I started reading that, and it really spoke to me, and I saw a lot of parallels between that passage and what we’re seeing right now.”

Pastor Tim White of Tri-County Christian Center in Deer Park said the best way to react to Kirk’s assassination is to love the enemy.

“What’s the best way to, I don’t want to use the word revenge, but to respond to people who want to demise you, to silence you, and so forth?” he said. “Let’s succeed anyways. And what Jesus said in Matthew 5, when they curse you, bless them when they hate you, you love them.”

People moved away from the park and speeches after the rain subsided and over to the sidewalk to wave flags and signs at passing cars and trucks, most of which honked back in support.

No protestors were at the Charlie Kirk vigil.

Matthew Mastronardi, a former West Valley teacher who was recently fired for saying a slur while reading ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ found a parallel with Kirk’s death and 9/11.

“It was similar to 9/11 in the sense that there is a clear before and after. It’s a time stamp in my life. I don’t remember anything from 3rd grade. I remember 9/11,” Mastronardi said. “I think for a lot of young people who were born after 9/11, this is like that moment for them.”

Calista Jay worked directly with Kirk when she lived in Arizona. She currently works with Turning Point’s Alumni Association.

“I actually personally knew Charlie Kirk,” she said. “I volunteered with him a few times.”

People on both sides of the political spectrum have condemned Kirk’s shooting death, but some have praised it. Jay said the political right would not salute a liberal leader’s death.  

“I think it’s wrong, even if somebody on their side would be killed, we over here [are] not going to celebrate, because it’s a human life,” she said.

Kirk recently visited the Washington State University Pullman campus in April, drawing in a crowd of over 1,200 students and community members.

He founded Turning Point USA when he was 18 and built a movement around driving young people to conservatism, traveling from college campus to college campus debating with students.

Critics have labeled Kirk’s presentations as containing misinformation, while supporters describe his work as essential conservative outreach to young Americans.