Hundreds of Thousands Around the World Commemorate Charlie Kirk

The assassination of the Turning Point USA founder and prominent podcaster has sparked an international outpouring of grief, with memorial gatherings held from London to Sydney.

Rudy Blalock

Published: 9/13/2025, 9:30:44 PM EDT

Hundreds of Thousands Around the World Commemorate Charlie Kirk — Protesters carry a poster depicting the late U.S. political activist Charlie Kirk during the "Unite The Kingdom" rally on Westminster Bridge by the Houses of Parliament in London, England, on Sept. 13, 2025. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Hundreds of thousands of people across multiple continents gathered for vigils and memorial services this week to honor Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative activist who was fatally shot Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University during his "American Comeback Tour."

The assassination of the Turning Point USA founder and prominent podcaster has sparked an international outpouring of grief, with memorial gatherings held from London to Sydney.

One of the largest gatherings was one that intersected with other political events when his death became a focal point during a massive conservative rally in London Saturday. The London march organized by conservative activist Tommy Robinson drew more than 100,000 people and became unruly as a small group of his supporters clashed with police officers who were separating them from counterprotesters.

Several speakers paid tribute to Kirk, who was remembered in a moment of silence, followed by a bagpiper playing "Amazing Grace." One demonstrator held a sign saying: "Freedom of speech is dead. RIP Charlie Kirk."

One of the most notable international tributes occurred Thursday evening in London, where hundreds of mourners assembled at the Winston Churchill statue to honor Kirk's memory. The gathering featured lit candles and whispered prayers as supporters paid tribute to Kirk's life and work.

Videos shared online showed crowds breaking into the hymn "Amazing Grace" in central London. Supporters described the memorial as demonstrating "faith, resilience, and renewed unity," according to an Instagram post by Thekindjoe.

"He may have been an American loved by America. But Britain and Europe loved him just as much," according to a post on X by Inevitable West that included a video of hundreds gathered who were singing the song.

Kirk's wife, Erika, addressed the public for the first time Sept. 12 since her husband's assassination two days prior. In a livestreamed message on social media, she described Kirk as a martyr and said the evildoers responsible for his assassination "have no idea what they have done."

"They killed Charlie because he preached a message of patriotism, faith, and of God's merciful love," she said.

Standing at a podium that read "May Charlie be received into the merciful arms of Jesus, our loving Savior," she spoke beside her husband's broadcasting desk, along with a "47" hat and stuffed animal.

"If you thought that my husband's mission was powerful before, you have no idea," she added, changing her tone. "You have no idea what you just have unleashed across this entire country and this world, you have no idea. You have no idea the fire that you have ignited within this wife."

She said that her husband's mission would not end and encouraged people to join Turning Point USA. "I will never let your legacy die," she said. "I'll make Turning Point USA the biggest thing this nation has ever seen."

National Gatherings

In the wake of the shooting, vigils and gatherings to honor Kirk have sprung up around the country.

On Thursday, hundreds lined the road outside Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Orem, Utah, where Kirk was rushed to after the shooting. Attendees held American flags as cars passed by honking their horns and visitors placed bouquets of flowers, lit candles, and small American flags in front of a large hospital sign.

In Des Moines, Iowa, on Friday night, hundreds of people came together for a vigil. A stage displayed pictures of Kirk and his family, flags, and a video of a speech made by Kirk's widow, according to the Des Moines Register.

More than a hundred people gathered for a candlelight prayer vigil Sept. 12 for Kirk at the Palm Beach Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, the Palm Beach Post reported.

Among those who spoke at the Sept. 12 vigil was Republican state Rep. Meg Weinberger of Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach Young Republican Club president Alex Fahmy, whose organization hosted the event, FAU Turning Point USA Chapter member Taylor Ward, and former Turning Point members Gracie Gaylord and Morgan Mitchell.

Fahmy said, "The best way we can honor him is by carrying that mission forward," according to the local news outlet.

Australian Memorial Draws Hundreds

Hundreds of Australians attended a candlelight vigil to honor the U.S. conservative commentator, an Australian online news site owned by News Corp. Australia reported.

Turning Point Australia, an offshoot of Kirk's Turning Point group, organized the sunset vigil in Sydney's Hyde Park on Friday, attended by up to 1,000 people.

The Australian organization’s director told the Sydney Morning Herald of plans to bring Kirk to Australia prior to his assassination.

Turning Point Australia director Joel Jammal told the crowd Kirk was "a great man" who inspired him. "There will not be another man like Charlie Kirk," he said.

He added, "Charlie's life's work shows us that if your ideas need violence to be accepted by others, then they're not the right ideas."

Another vigil will be held at the University of Queensland on Sunday night.

Political Leaders Respond

Kirk's assassination prompted widespread condemnation from politicians across party lines. Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom called the attack "disgusting, vile, and reprehensible."

Trump ordered flags lowered to half-staff and announced plans to posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom. "He wanted to help young people, and he didn't deserve this," Trump said Friday.

Details of the Assassination

Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested Thursday night in connection with Kirk's death, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox announced. Investigators believe Robinson acted alone in the killing.

"We got him," Cox told reporters at a news conference Friday announcing Robinson's arrest. Robinson is scheduled to appear in court early next week and was being held without bail on charges including aggravated murder and felony discharge of a firearm.

The suspect's family reported he had become "more political in recent years" and had criticized Kirk, saying "Kirk was full of hate and spreading hate," according to Cox.

Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 at age 18 with tea party activist Bill Montgomery. The organization backed Trump after he secured the 2016 Republican nomination, and Kirk served as a personal aide to Donald Trump Jr. during that campaign.

Robinson attended Utah State University for one semester in 2021 on an academic scholarship before transferring to Dixie Technical College, where he was studying in an electrical apprenticeship program. He had no prior criminal record and was registered as an unaffiliated voter.

Kirk is survived by his wife and two young children. "Our world is filled with evil, but our God ... is so good," Erika Kirk said. Later in her speech, she said that "our battle is not simply a political one. Above all, it is spiritual. ... The spiritual warfare is palpable."