‘We are all Charlie,’ mourners cry at Fort Worth vigil for slain activist Kirk
Cars lined up from miles away, and about 1,000 people walked toward Trinity Park in Fort Worth to join a prayer vigil Sunday night to honor conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“Charlie fought the good fight, and he’s in the arms of our Savior, and he’s better than all of us are right now,” Amanda Clement said, addressing the crowd.
Kirk was one of very few people who could reach the current generation of young people and give their voices a public platform, Clement said.
“It was so heartbreaking, as a mama, to see that voice quieted, but it wasn’t made silent, and that’s proved by all of you here,” she said.
Charlie Kirk assassination suspect arrested
Kirk, 31, who was the founder of youth political organization Turning Point USA, a husband, and a father of two young children, was shot and killed on Sept. 10, during an event on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
A 22-year-old suspect, Tyler Robinson, was arrested last week. Investigators say that DNA evidence on a towel that was wrapped around the rifle used in the assassination matched Robinson, the Associated Press reported.
DNA evidence on a screwdriver recovered from the rooftop where the fatal shot was fired also matched the suspect, authorities told the AP.
Utah authorities are preparing to file capital murder charges against Robinson.
Mourners speak about Kirk’s faith, impact on youth
North Texas community members prayed for Kirk at Sunday’s vigil, and they were given the opportunity to share some thoughts.
“I will not get to meet Charlie in this life, but I will meet him in heaven,” said 20-year-old Lexi O., of Fort Worth, as she sobbed during the open mic time.
“I am a part of a generation that had such a great example of a true American patriot and a Christian, and I think that everything he stood for was so beautiful,” said Lexi, who gave her first name and last initial.
As the sun started setting and the evening grew darker, mourners passed around candles, using one candle to light another, and the crowd began singing prayers.
John Emery, 28, and Mikayla Emery, 22, joined the crowd with their 9-month-old baby girl to honor Kirk.
Kirk’s message was “about listening to what everyone has to say and finding how Jesus’ message fits into that within a community,” John Emery told the Star-Telegram.
“True democracy is giving everybody a seat at the table, and that is something that Charlie stood for, and we want to not only have, like, a RIP post,” Mikayla Emery said. “We actually took this week to pray and ask the Lord how do you want us to take action to honor his life and honor what he started, and not just from a political perspective, but from a faith perspective, from an everyday life perspective.”
“Division is pushed really hard, especially through politics and religion,” John Emery added. “I feel like — not just in Texas but across the country — to see this type of gathering is really encouraging. That his message of ‘come to the table, let’s have a discussion, let’s understand each other, where you’re coming from, what your story is’ actually is spreading.”
Ken Emanuelson, 54, came from Carrollton, draping an American flag over his shoulders, and standing tall amid the crowd at the vigil.
“He was a young guy. He was just getting started. To see the impact that he had on the world in his short years, it’s just amazing,” Emanuelson told the Star-Telegram.
Emanuelson said he had recently learned about Kirk and was impressed by his political work and his ability to engage in civil conversations with those who disagreed with him.
“I’m a Christian, and as strange as it sounds, (I hope) that (the suspect) would find Christ, that he would wonder, if he looks at the impact of what he did and wonder why so many people were so affected by the man that he killed,” Emanuelson said.
Emanuelson said he has seen a lot of people who have been celebrating the fact that Kirk was killed. “If we’re supposed to be in a free society where people can share their thoughts freely and openly, then it’s corrosive, and it’s an end of a civil society,” he said.
“We need to put down the weapons and take up the microphones and talk to each other and see if we can find common ground, because we’re all here together,” Emanuelson said.
“We are all Charlie,” the crowd chanted, and their voices echoed throughout the park as the vigil came to an end.
This story was originally published September 15, 2025 at 3:07 PM.