In a striking show of solidarity and grief, more than two thousand mourners gathered Monday night at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) to honor slain Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. Turning Point USA’s UTSA Chapter President Jack Harrell said Kirk’s assassination last week at Utah Valley University ignited a surge in campus activism and doubled local chapter membership within days.
In the short span of five days, the membership of Turning Point USA’s University of Texas at San Antonio chapter has doubled. In an interview at the UTSA vigil, Harrell told Breitbart Texas he does not see any chance of the massive swell of support ending any time soon.
Harrell spoke to Breitbart Texas after the conclusion of a candlelight vigil at the campus in honor of Turning Point USA founder and conservative free-speech advocate Charlie Kirk. Breitbart Texas attended the vigil and reported that around 2,000 mourners gathered at the UTSA campus on Monday evening to honor the late Turning Point USA founder after his assassination last week at Utah Valley University in front of a crowd of thousands of students and supporters there to hear him speak.
As president of the UTSA chapter, Harrell had a message for those who are finding difficulty coping with the tragic loss of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. In the video, Harrell reminds supporters of Kirk that feeling anger and grief are okay. He warns, however, “In your anger, you should not sin.”
Harrell spoke of the difficulty in forgiving, considering the tragedy that occurred just last week, and says the chapter decided to wait until Monday to hold the vigil to allow followers and chapter members a chance to grieve and catch their breath. Speaking about his struggle to forgive those who mock Charlie Kirk, Harrell says he has worked hard to forgive those who do not fully know the beautiful soul they celebrated dying.
Breitbart Texas attended Monday’s vigil that included several speeches by campus Turning Point USA speakers who offered prayers and messages of support to attendees. Breitbart Texas attended the vigil and spoke to several students who said they generally do not participate in political events but felt compelled to attend the vigil in support of Charlie Kirk because of the overwhelming sadness felt over his assassination last week at Utah Valley University.
Among the crowd that numbered perhaps more than two thousand people paying their respects to the late Charlie Kirk were a handful of protesters holding a Palestinian flag and a sign that read “Free Palestine.” The small group of protesters was closely watched by campus staff and police officers standing nearby. The group mostly remained silent and did not attempt to disrupt the services honoring Kirk’s legacy.
The ceremony honored Kirk’s life through prayer that included a request for mourners in attendance to stay active in forwarding the cause of free speech that was so important to the conservative speaker’s organization. The crowd loudly chanted “USA” and “Christ is King” at several points during the vigil. Speakers offered catholic prayers recited by the entire crowd as the somber ceremony moved to a conclusion.
Randy Clark is a 32-year veteran of the United States Border Patrol. Before his retirement, he served as the Division Chief for Law Enforcement Operations, directing operations for nine Border Patrol Stations within the Del Rio, Texas, Sector. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @RandyClarkBBTX.
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