PHOENIX – Hundreds of people across the Valley paid their respects to the late Charlie Kirk at Turning Point Headquarters in Phoenix.
Local perspective:
Crowds full of high school and college students, young families, and seniors arrived in waves at the late activists’ memorial on Sept. 11. At times, people have broken out in prayer and worship, laying flowers and candles at the growing memorial.
It’s been met with heavy emotions, with visible tears, heartbreak, and even bringing people to their knees.
“It’s emotional because no one deserves that,” one person said. “Say what you will. You can disagree with what he said, what he stood for, but no one deserves. It makes me angry, and I don’t like to buy into that…it’s almost like the combination of stuff that’s gone on in the last few years. This man didn’t deserve it.”
What they’re saying:
The late husband and father to two young children called Arizona home. Kirk focused on the next generation of young voters.
“He impacted the youth a lot. And I think that he had a huge sway in the way that the election went,” an Arizona State University student said. “But not only that, he is a huge believer in Christ. And I think that when people look up to him in that sense as well, it takes on each way bigger meaning.”
Kirk’s supporters at his memorial were visibly shaken by this loss.
“Whether you like him or not, is much more than a loss of someone. It’s the fact that now my generation is being taught that we shouldn’t speak out or things like this can happen,” Keegan Hibbs, a Grand Canyon University student and supporter of Charlie Kirk said. “And that’s exactly why I’m out here and showing a presence, because it’s extremely important that in times like this, we don’t cower down and fall into what the ultimately this is meant to do, you know, and we actually reach out in, you know, like there were Catholic people here, Jewish people here. I mean, we’re all coming in with unity. And that’s exactly what you need right now.”
The backstory:
The 31-year-old was a conservative activist who spoke on college campuses all over the country, allowing open dialogue and debate on controversial topics.
That’s exactly what he was doing when he was assassinated.
Valley moms, like Erin Hanson, are wanting their children to remember this moment.
“It’s day that’s going to change the world. And I want them to be here to see it. Honor his memory. To pray for his soul. Pray for his family,” Hanson said.
What’s next:
Arizona State University will have a prayer vigil service for Kirk on Sept. 15 at 5:30 p.m.
When President Trump was asked about attending the funeral in Arizona, he told reporters it’s his obligation to be there. No funeral plans have been announced yet.
The Source: This information was gathered by FOX 10’s Kenzie Beach, who interviewed those who attended Charlie Kirk’s memorial at Turning Point in Phoenix on Sept. 11.
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