BOCA RATON — Students at Florida Atlantic University will gather on campus Sept. 11 to hold a memorial honoring right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk.
Kirk, 31, was a prominent commentator who founded Turning Point USA, a nationwide organization aimed at mobilizing young conservatives on college campuses. He was fatally shot Sept. 10 while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University near Salt Lake City.
Hosted by Florida Atlantic’s chapter of the organization, the memorial will be held at 7 p.m. in the Boca Student Union and will feature a moment of silence, prayer and opportunities for attendees to engage in discussion.
Nick Coyte, 25, a senior and president of the FAU chapter, said the memorial was organized as “an opportunity to rise above political violence” and to foster civil discourse on campus.
“We want to keep dialogue alive,” he said.
In a joint statement released yesterday, FAU’s chapters of Turning Point USA and College Democrats condemned the attack and called for students to engage respectfully in campus politics.
“We unequivocally condemn any form of political violence,” the statement read. “We are committed to healthy politics, safety and tolerance on our college campus. Political violence has no place in America, a proud nation with a long and strong tradition of healthy debate when faced with political disagreement rather than resorting to violence.
“In the spirit of Charlie Kirk, we urge students not to shy away from civil discourse. In these challenging times, our thoughts and prayers are with Charlie Kirk’s wife and children, as well as the onlookers and students at Utah Valley University.”
Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk speaks at the USA Believers’ Summit at the Palm Beach County Convention Center on July 26, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Coyte described the campus chapter as having a checkered history, with periods of inactivity and disorganization before he helped rebuild it as a freshman. Today, the group maintains regular contact with other political student organizations and hosts debates, guest speakers and discussions on a variety of topics.
“Our main goal has been to bridge divides,” Coyte said. “We’ve had members of the Communist club on campus reach out to us and be pleasant, and we’ve had members of our opposing political views come and participate very peacefully.”
While Coyte said the university administration has generally been supportive, he acknowledged that the group sometimes encounters criticism from fellow students and faculty.
“We get abuse hurled at us all the time,” he said.
The chapter, which has a six-member executive board and typically draws 25 to 50 students to its events, primarily recruits through tabling and open discussions on the breezeway, Coyte said.
Holding the memorial on campus, he said, was essential to addressing the surge of emotions following Kirk’s death.
“We had to do it here, and soon,” he said. “Tensions and emotions are high and we need to do our part in reorienting people’s emotions in the direction of peaceful, civil discourse.”
Jasmine Fernández is a journalist covering Delray Beach and Boca Raton for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at jfernandez@pbpost.com and follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @jasminefernandz. Help support our work. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Charlie Kirk shooting: FAU Turning Point chapter hosting prayer, vigil