Dusk fell as a group of students gathered around the seal on Ped Walkway at about 8 p.m Sept. 11.
A candlelight vigil in honor of Charlie Kirk, after his sudden assassination the day before, drew a crowd that nearly spilled over into the road beside them.
The warm Southern evening filled with the chirps of cicadas became punctuated by somber voices.
Candles sat in baskets around the circle and organizers passed candles to attendees. Organizers opened with a few remarks about Kirk’s life, family and impact in politics and on the nation.
Students gather for a vigil following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Sep.11, 2025
They requested a moment of silence as attendees lit each other’s candles. After the moment of silence, the group moved into prayer, followed by a request that attendees leave the seal in silence.
By 8:30 p.m., attendees walked away quietly.
Students, alumni and others in attendance remarked on why the death of conservative activist Kirk drew them to the seal that night. For some, the grief hit close.
“I don’t think I’ve ever cried over someone dying that I didn’t know personally,” UT alumna Anna Beranek said. “He was an amazing guy who did not deserve this. Nobody on either side of politics deserves this. This wasn’t about politics. This was far beyond.”
Some participants emphasized how Kirk’s faith and political beliefs motivated his supporters, highlighting the reasons why they attended the vigil.
“I’m pretty upset about it just because personally I’m a Christian, and all the morals that he stood for and the people that he influenced, it was just amazing. … And I just loved a lot of his policies and how everything that he stood for, he backed up with the Bible and truly was a man of God,” freshman Lakyn Canada said. “My thoughts and prayers just go out to his family and all affected. I couldn’t even imagine. My heart breaks for them.”
Others echoed those sentiments.
Senior Hayden Ward said he is feeling “hurt for our nation. You know, not everyone agreed with him, but he still had a family, and he still put God first.”
“I think it’s a needless tragedy that’s gotta stop happening in this country,” Reagan Bittel, a senior political science major, said. “It’s become a repeated issue and I think if we don’t nip it in the bud now, it’s going to … become something much worse.”
Several attendees held American flags, including freshman political science major Matthew Devito.
Matthew Devito holds an American flag at a vigil following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Sept.11, 2025
“I think it really just shows how divided we’ve become as a country,” Devito said.
Some in attendance did not support Charlie’s beliefs.
“I had just walked out of the Democrat club,” freshman Thomas Hursey said. “Honestly, I just kind of (stopped) here to take it all in. I don’t really like him that much … but he died pretty young and it makes me feel, there’s a bit of sadness.”
Hursey called the shooting “bad, regardless whether you feel sympathetic for him or not. I think political violence is pretty bad … Honestly, it’s indicative of the current political environment, and I believe that you should condemn political violence.”
Students expressed a need for change in the nation’s political atmosphere.
“I think all of America needs to come together and recognize what happened yesterday (is) wrong,” sophomore marketing major David Lively said. “And I’m here because I supported Charlie and I think whatever happened yesterday is one of the worst things that’s ever happened in American history, and I think political violence needs to end now.”
Others expressed their concern about where they believe the country is headed.
“For me, (it’s) very worrying that as things get more politically charged, violent, knowing that people will want you dead for your views and are willing to kill you for them is something that I feel,” junior Thaddeus Foundas said. “It’s a dark path we’re going down.”
