There was music, Scripture and grief Monday night at the Weyers Cave Community Center, where local Republicans organized a vigil in the wake of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk’s killing earlier this month.
Organizers had only a few days to prepare, but roughly 100 people attended.
“It was spontaneous,’’ Marshall Pattie, vice chairman of the 6th Congressional District Republican Committee, told The News Virginian. “We felt this was something the community needed.”
Religious leaders took the stage Monday to recount how Kirk’s life came to an end Sept. 10 when a gunman shot and killed him on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Kirk, the co-founder of conservative advocacy group Turning Point USA who was noted for visiting college campuses and debating students, was there on the first stop of his “American Comeback Tour.”
Pastor Mike Lawson of Rejoicing Life Church in Stuarts Draft said while Kirk’s death will be remembered as a political assassination, on a deeper level, “it was martyrdom of a Christian by someone who hates God.”
Tyler James Robinson, a 22-year-old Utah resident, faces multiple charges in connection with Kirk’s death. Robinson’s family and friends have said little about his religion; he was raised Mormon. Robinson reportedly told those close to him that he believed Kirk was dangerous and was stoking political divisions.
Lawson said Kirk’s death felt personal.
“It hit me harder, because he was a brother in Christ,’’ he said.
Reagan Polarek, a James Madison University senior, told the prayer vigil conservatives cannot let the bullet that silenced Kirk silence them all. She is part of a group that organized a Turning Point USA chapter at JMU after Kirk died. And in a little more than a week, the fledgling chapter has already attracted 400 students as members.
“There is no better time than now to speak up about what I believe in,” Polarek said. “We can no longer be silent.”
John Massoud, 6th District Republican Committee chairman, said there was no sugar-coating Kirk’s loss.
“A horrible thing has happened to us,” he told the crowd. “We have every right to be outraged, but we are doing the right thing.”
Pattie concluded Monday’s prayer vigil by telling the crowd it is important they get involved in the final weeks leading up to the November elections. They could help at the local level with House of Delegates races or at the state level working to push Republican nominees Winsome Earle-Sears, John Reid and Jason Miyares over the finish line.
“I ask you to go door-knocking for Winsome, Jason and John Reid,’’ Pattie said.
Bob Stuart (540) 932-3562
rstuart@newsvirginian.com
@oldyankee53 on X
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