Hundreds gather at West Virginia Capitol to honor Charlie Kirk

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WOWK) — Hundreds gathered on the steps of the West Virginia Capitol Thursday night for a vigil honoring conservative activist Charlie Kirk, eight days after he was shot and killed during a debate at Utah Valley University.

The vigil, called “Remembering Charlie Kirk: A Call to Courage,” brought community members, state leaders and supporters to the Capitol Complex to reflect on Kirk’s life. Governor Patrick Morrisey and several West Virginia political leaders shared remarks, while attendees prayed and offered testimonials about what his death meant to them.

“I hope we can do it in peace and love and learn to agree to disagree and still be friends,” one attendee said. “I have a lot of friends on Facebook that are Republican, Democrat, and we choose to still be friends at the end of the day. I wish the country would learn that.”

Representatives of Turning Point USA, the nonprofit organization Kirk founded in 2012, also attended the vigil. Earlier Thursday, the organization announced Kirk’s wife, Erika Kirk, will step in as the organization’s new CEO.

Kirk had been at Utah Valley University for his “American Comeback” speaking tour, debating students and attendees on political and religious issues.