WAUKESHA – Some held candles. Many others chanted “USA! USA!” and “Charlie!”
Several thousand people gathered at Cutler Park in Waukesha on Sept. 16 for a ceremony remembering Charlie Kirk, the right-wing activist who was assassinated in Utah last week.
The event, organized by Wisconsin Young Republicans, is one of many vigils and services around the country held in honor of Kirk. The Waukesha event appeared to attract thousands of attendees, though an official head count was not immediately available.
Kirk, 31, was shot on Sept. 10 while speaking on the first stop of his “American Comeback Tour” on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
Tyler Robinson, 22, is accused of shooting and killing Kirk.
Former Gov. Scott Walker talked to the crowd about Kirk’s ability to connect with students.
“Many young people have lost a leader,” Walker said. “A leader who gave them a voice, who let them know that they could speak out for their values.”
Walker, who is now president of the Young America’s Foundation, earlier said his youth conservative organization will review security at its events but won’t stop holding them on college campuses.
Brett Galaszewski, a field director in Wisconsin for the Kirk-founded Turning Point Action, praised the large crowd, saying Kirk would be proud of the turnout — and said he was especially proud of the work the group had done in Wisconsin.
Galaszewski said the last time they spoke a few weeks ago, Kirk had told him, “Proud of you, man.”
Other speakers at the event included Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow, former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, and state Sen. Julian Bradley.
Kirk became a prominent figure nationally as a conservative influencer and as the co-founder of Turning Point USA, an organization that pushes for conservative politics on high school and college campuses.
Kirk became known as a fierce ― and controversial ― debater. He engaged in topics such as Second Amendment rights, race, gender, sexuality and religion, often fielding debates with young people.
Since his killing, local officials, educators and others have faced firings and social media backlash in recent days for online posts about his death, drawing harassment and death threats.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has praised Kirk for his work building support for Trump among young people, saying at a vigil in Washington, D.C., that Trump’s win in November 2024 was “fueled in no small part by the tireless work of Charlie, the Turning Point organization that he built from scratch out of a garage.”
More: A look at Charlie Kirk and Turning Point USA’s political involvement in Wisconsin
Turning Point USA has a Midwest office in Waukesha. Since his death, his memorial on the Turning Point USA grounds has grown as residents pay tribute to the 31-year-old figure. Kirk also spoke at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 15, 2024, alongside U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and then-South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who now serves as the Secretary of Homeland Security.
(This story is developing and will update.)
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Thousands gather in Waukesha to mourn right-wing activist Charlie Kirk