‘Hugs not Hate’: How UVU students are spreading unity after Charlie Kirk shooting

OREM, Utah (ABC4) — One week ago, Charlie Kirk was shot and killed on Utah Valley University campus. This week, one UVU student and his friends are working to promote unity and kindness.

Last week, political activist Charlie Kirk was holding a debate at Utah Valley University when he was shot and killed. Over three thousand individuals were attending the event and witnessed his death, in addition to UVU students who were on campus and attending class at the time.

In the aftermath of the shooting, UVU shut down the campus and cancelled all classes. Today, students returned to campus, with many of them feeling sad, traumatized, and even angry.

Despite the turmoil, many in the community have come together to promote unity, including UVU students Lane Bockenstedt and Zach Mitchell.

Bockenstedt was at Charlie Kirk’s event and said, “I understand how difficult that moment has been. Not only for me, but for all of the people who were there and all of the students here at UVU.”

By starting ‘Hugs not Hate’, Bockenstedt hopes to unify UVU and have everybody come together with love and compassion. On Friday, September 19, he and his friends will be passing out flowers on campus starting at 8 a.m.

According to his current estimates, those involved in ‘Hugs not Hate’ have collected between 3,500 and 5,000 flowers to pass out. Multiple Utah businesses have also donated or provided discount flowers to the Hugs not Hate movement.

Bockenstedt and his friends have started a GoFundMe to help pass out as many flowers as possible. Any funds donated will go to purchasing flowers that will be passed out next week, on Thursday, September 25, or distributed to other organizations with similar goals.

They are also pushing to have Utah Valley University implement a Day of Service each semester. Additionally, Bockenstedt says they are working with congressman Burgess Owens to spread it to other Utah schools.

“We just want to try to positively affect people and to really help people know that they’re not alone and that there are so many people that care so much about them,” Bockenstedt said.