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Thousands Gather at Orem City Park Vigil to Honor Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk
Between 3,000 and 4,000 people gathered at Orem City Park to pay tribute to conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The community vigil, organized by the Tribe Utah, drew supporters of all ages who laid flowers, lit candles, and shared their grief. Attendees included those who had planned to attend Kirk's debate at UVU but didn't make it, viewing their absence as providential. The emotional gathering featured speeches from the Orem city mayor and created a space for the community to mourn together and honor a figure many deeply respected.
Community Mourns Together
Orem City Park became a gathering place for thousands as the community came together to mourn the loss of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Event organizers from the Tribe Utah estimated that between 3,000 and 4,000 people attended the vigil, creating an atmosphere of shared grief and respect.
Reporter Britney Tate covered the emotional tribute, noting that candles remained lit throughout the evening as people continued to arrive to pay their respects. The vigil drew supporters from across the community, all united in their desire to honor Kirk's memory and legacy.
Personal Tributes and Reflections
Among the first to arrive was 81-year-old Lewis Cutler, who spoke about his deep respect for Kirk. "He's a true American and they love him," Cutler said, explaining that Kirk "serves the same values I have pretty much and I respect him for that."
The vigil attracted people of all ages, including children who laid flowers below a picture of the political influencer. Jaylen Josie, who had purchased tickets to hear Kirk's debate at UVU, shared a poignant story about missing the event. "I think it's so important to gather as a community," she said, recounting how her baby's extended nap prevented her from attending. "100% God works in mysterious ways. I 100% believe that that was God's hand in our life that we didn't end up going."
An Outpouring of Support
As the sun set over Orem City Park, the sound of muffled sobbing could be heard among the gathered crowd. One attendee reflected on the importance of the gathering: "It's good to see that there's still good in this world."
Event organizers were moved by the community response. "The outpouring of support that we've seen just over the last couple days just from our community members is definitely inspiring," one organizer shared.
Standing Together in Grief
Phone flashlights illuminated the evening sky as attendees held them aloft in tribute. One supporter emphasized the importance of showing up: "You have to show support for the people that you believe in or else who's going to be the person, right? Stand up cuz that's what he did too."
The vigil provided what many described as a safe space to heal from a tragedy that shook the community. The Orem city mayor addressed the crowd, followed by an ongoing line of supporters who wanted to kneel, light a candle, and lay flowers in Kirk's honor.
As the evening progressed, people continued to gather, the candles remained lit, and the community found solace in mourning together the loss of a man many respected deeply.
Video Transcript
[00:00] also gathering tonight paying tribute to
[00:02] Charlie Kirk. ORM City Park is a
[00:05] location of that where again another
[00:06] vigil was held. Our Britney Tate is
[00:08] there live right now with more. Britney,
[00:13] that's absolutely right, Mike. You can
[00:15] see the candles still lit behind me
[00:18] tonight. Event organizers from the Tribe
[00:20] Utah tell me that they estimate 3 to
[00:23] 4,000 people came with heavy hearts to
[00:26] mourn the loss of conservative activist
[00:29] Charlie Kirk.
[00:34] >> I'm sad
[00:35] >> 81year-old Lewis Cutler was one of the
[00:38] first to arrive at this Oram city park
[00:40] to honor a man.
[00:42] >> He's a true American and they love him
[00:44] >> who he respected deeply. He serves the f
[00:47] same values I have pretty much and I
[00:51] respect him for that.
[00:52] >> Dozens, even children, laid flowers
[00:54] below a picture of political influencer
[00:57] Charlie Kirk.
[00:57] >> I think it's so important to gather as a
[00:59] community.
[01:00] >> Jaylen Josie had tickets to hear Kirk's
[01:02] debate at UVU, but ended up not going
[01:04] when her baby took a longer nap than
[01:06] usual.
[01:07] >> 100% God works in mysterious ways. I
[01:10] 100% believe that that was God's hand in
[01:12] our life that we didn't end up going.
[01:15] And as the sun set, muffled sobbing
[01:18] could be heard
[01:19] >> gathering together. It's good to see
[01:20] that there's still good in this world.
[01:22] >> The outpouring of support that we've
[01:23] seen just over the last couple days just
[01:25] from our community members um is
[01:27] definitely inspiring.
[01:28] >> Phone flashlights lit up the sky.
[01:30] >> You have to show support for the people
[01:32] that you believe in or else who's going
[01:34] to be the person, right? Stand up cuz
[01:37] that's what he did too.
[01:38] >> A safe space to heal from a tragedy that
[01:41] shook the community.
[01:48] And back here live in Oram tonight, the
[01:51] emotion was almost tangible. So many
[01:54] people came out tonight. They listened
[01:56] to the Oram city mayor speak. Then after
[01:58] that, there was an ongoing line of
[02:01] supporters who wanted to kneel, light a
[02:03] candle, and lay flowers to honor a man
[02:06] that they respected so deeply. Um, so
[02:10] many ongoing messages tonight. And
[02:12] again, these candles still lit, people
[02:14] still gathering to mourn the loss of
[02:17] Charlie Kirk. I'll send it back to you,
[02:18] Mike.
[02:20] Yeah, touching, very touching tribute,
[02:22] Britney. Thank you very much.
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