UVU hosts vigil for unity after Charlie Kirk shooting

OREM, Utah (ABC4) — Today, hundreds gathered at the UCCU Center on Utah Valley University in a vigil for unity, nine days after Charlie Kirk was shot and killed on campus.

On September 10, political activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while hosting a debate at UVU. Thousands were in attendance, in addition to the many students and faculty who were also on campus at the time.

Following the shooting, UVU shut down and cancelled all classes temporarily. Students returned to school on Wednesday, a week after the shooting. Additionally, people have held vigils across the state to pay their respects.

Utah Valley University held a public vigil today for the public to come together “in the spirit of peace, reflection, and mutual support.” The vigil took place at the UCCU Center and started at 4 p.m.

UVU officials also said that the vigil was intended to provide “a space for students, faculty, staff, and community members to come together in remembering, healing, and reaffirming shared values.”

The vigil featured a posting of the colors with UVU ROTC, a performance of the national anthem by UVU student Olivia Blackwell, a montage video of Charlie Kirk, and a musical performance of “Oh Love” by Utah Valley Institute Singers.

Several UVU students also recited scripture, and remarks were given by Catholic Lay Ecclesial Minister Dr. Juliana Boerio-Goates, Former President of UVU Elder Matthew S. Holland, and President of Utah Valley University Astrid S. Tuminez.

Dr. Juliana Boerio-Goates said, “I tend to think of healing as the first step, one that enables unity, and then unity gives rise to peace, both within all of us individually, and with our relationships with others. Thus broken by the trauma of last week, the brokenness in our communities, our country, and the world, healing seems essential to achieve unity and peace and respect.”

She discussed the major faith traditions across the world and highlighted major similarities between them when it comes to forgiveness. “An essential step to healing is forgiveness of those whom we have perceived to wrong us,” she said. Another common theme is that forgiveness flows from the divine, she said.

“The firing of a single bullet on this campus last week left wounds, seen and unseen, in every direction,” Former UVU President Matthew S. Holland said as he addressed the crowd at the vigil. “The first and foremost casualty was Charlie Kirk. His life, precious, as is all human life, was cut short, and a young family was left to grieve. Our earnest prayers continue for the Kirk family. Additionally, this lone act of violence pierced hearts and minds everywhere, as well as the soul of this institution, and that of the nation, and even the world.”

Holland continued, “What happened last week was an unimaginable violation of everything UVU has stood for and become. What I know about this incredible school is that such a moment is likely to elevate rather than derail its core commitments.”

Holland called for shouldering shared burdens and healing collectively. “Peace in its most fundamental sense is not the complete absence of hostility or conflict, though it aims for that. It is the calming presence of goodness and God in our lives despite surrounding challenges,” he said.

President of UVU Astrid S. Tuminez thanked her community for their service and kindness in the last nine days.

“Shock, grief, abandonment, fear, and hurt have filled our hearts since September 10. A father and husband was killed on our campus. A wife and children were left bereft, and thousands in our own UVU family experienced trauma,” Tuminez said.

She quoted Psalm 23 and said, “My beloved UVU community, surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives. I have seen goodness and mercy. Our community, though wounded, showed up to serve one another.”

Tuminez had three requests for the UVU community: “Be grateful for our broken hearts,”
“pause and slow down when anger rises in our hearts towards those we think might be our enemy,” and “support UVU and be patient with us as we recover from this tragedy.”

“We have a long and difficult road ahead, and we can only succeed if we unite. I am honored to be a part of this beloved community, and I urge each of us to remember that love can be stronger than fear. Let peace, love, and grace heal us in all the parts we are broken,” Tuminez concluded.

The vigil concluded with a musical performance of “Let There Be Peace on Earth” by the Utah Valley Interfaith Choir. UVU Student Body President Kyle Cullimore gave closing remarks, and there was a candle lighting.

Cullimore said, “Peace feels so hard to talk about right now. How do we talk about peace when our hearts are heavy? How do we talk about peace when fear, hurt, and pain still feel so close? I believe peace begins with something simple yet so powerful: hope.”

He explained that his idea of hope is not a shallow one that ignores the tragedy that happened, but rather a hope that can only be found when searching the depth of our souls.

“In moments like this, it can be tempting to close ourselves off, to build walls around our pain, to put blame on one person, on one opinion, or sometimes, on a whole group of people. We as a community need to stop villainizing those we don’t understand,” he said.