California Conservatives Hold ⁤Vigils for ⁢Charlie Kirk Following ⁤Utah Shooting

SAN FRANCISCO,CA – september 13,2025 – From San Francisco’s Noe Valley​ Park to planned events in Los Angeles County,California conservatives are mourning the death of Charlie Kirk,the 31-year-old founder of the conservative youth association Turning Point,who was shot and killed while speaking at a Utah university. Vigils and memorial events are being held across the state, drawing attendees from‌ various Republican organizations and individuals.

Approximately 80 people gathered Saturday ​afternoon in Noe Valley Park for a memorial hosted by the San Francisco County Republican ‍Party, featuring prayers,‍ eulogies, and placards promoting ⁤dialog. Police officers‍ observed‍ the event from a distance, according to reports from the San Francisco Standard.

Further south,‍ the Ventura County Republican ⁢committee is organizing a “Light in the Darkness” vigil ‌Monday night at 6:30 p.m. at Walnut⁣ Grove ‍at tierra Rejada Farms in Moorpark. Organizers anticipate hundreds of attendees. Richard Lucas ‌III, chair of the Ventura county Republican party, stated Kirk “plainly ​spoke the truth on‍ issues…making⁢ himself near and dear to so manny people,” including stances ⁣on the 2nd Amendment and⁣ the beginning of life. He⁤ expects ⁢the vigil to include prayers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and expressions of grief. “Pray for peace, pray for love,” Lucas⁤ said. “We no political parties don’t always see eye to eye, but⁤ any⁤ result of violence is unequivocally unacceptable, especially political violence.”

additional vigils have been ⁢held or are scheduled in Van Nuys, Beverly hills, Rancho Palos Verdes, and Huntington beach. The los Angeles Republican Party promoted a Sunday online event, “Dignity⁣ Over Violence,” hosted by the political depolarization nonprofit Braver Angels.

Kirk was a prominent, though often controversial, figure among conservative groups on college campuses. He frequently​ made deliberately provocative statements, including calling the Civil Rights Act a mistake ⁢and ⁣recently tweeting⁣ that‌ “Islam ⁣is not compatible with western civilization.”

Despite his divisive⁢ rhetoric, Kirk’s death has prompted widespread⁤ condemnation of the violence.California Governor Gavin Newsom stated he “admired [Kirk’s] passion and commitment to debate” and called his ‌murder “sick and reprehensible.” Even⁣ the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a⁢ leading Muslim‍ American civil⁢ rights organization⁢ that frequently enough opposed Kirk’s views, condemned the killing, stating that “the values that led us to oppose many of Mr. Kirk’s stances are ​the same values that lead us to condemn his murder⁤ and reaffirm that‍ political violence is not the answer to⁤ even the most hateful rhetoric.”

The shooting has sparked intense online debate, leading some Utah officials to urge‍ people to disengage from social media and “go out ⁣and do good in your community.”