Supporters of slain conservative political commentator Charlie Kirk are planning several memorial events in the Akron area on Oct. 14, which would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday.
It’s been a little over a month since Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed while giving a talk at Utah Valley University.
Kirk has received various honors in the weeks after his death, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Last month, Congress also approved resolutions to commemorate Kirk’s life by recognizing his birthday as a national day of remembrance.
“No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!” Trump said in a post on X.
Vigils honoring Kirk on his birthday are planned nationwide. Local events include a candlelight vigil organized by the Summit County Republican Party at Kim Tam Park in Springfield Township and memorials at Springfield Lake and Richardson Farms in Medina.
“His voice challenged us, inspired us, and reminded us that faith and truth walk hand in hand. As we remember him, may we carry forward that same spirit — unafraid to ask questions, to listen, and to stand for what is right,” said Cindy Clements, one of the organizers for the Medina event.
Here’s what we know about the Oct. 14 celebrations.
When and where will the Charlie Kirk vigil take place at Richardson Farms in Medina?
The memorial will take place 6-8 p.m. Oct. 14 at the venue, which is located at 6984 Lafayette Road.
What to expect at Richardson Farm’s Kirk memorial in Medina
“We will be gathering to remember Charlie Kirk on his birthday – to honor not only his life, but the mission he carried in his heart,” Clements said. “Charlie encouraged us to think deeply, to seek truth, to do our own research.”
The event will have singers and guest speakers and will be a “beautiful celebration of Kirk’s life,” said Donna Bartolozzi, one of the event’s organizers.
Swine BBQ will cater the event, Bartolozzi said.
Charlie Kirk memorial event also planned in Springfield Township
A candlelight vigil in honor of Kirk will be held at 5 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Springfield Lake Gazebo, located at 2491 Canfield Road in Springfield Township.
Who was Charlie Kirk?
Kirk has become a national figure as a conservative influencer and as the founder of Turning Point USA, an organization that pushes for conservative politics on high school and college campuses.
His speech at the 2016 Republican Convention in Cleveland helped introduce him to a national audience.
In 2024, he spoke at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where he gave a speech focusing on what Kirk says he heard from young people around the U.S.
Kirk was born in Illinois and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. He became involved in politics as a high school student and dropped out of college to pursue political activism.
According to the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network, Kirk married his wife, former Miss Arizona Erika Kirk, in 2021. He had a daughter who was born in 2022 and a son who was born in 2024.
What happened to Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10?
The 31-year-old media personality was at the Utah Valley University campus kicking off his “The American Comeback Tour” where he was hosting his “prove me wrong” table, where audience members debate the activist in a public setting.
Kirk was shot just after 12 p.m. as he was fielding questions from the crowd. The shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was arrested a few days after the shooting and charged with Kirk’s murder.
USA TODAY contributed to this report.
This story has been updated.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@gannett.com, or on Twitter @athompsonABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: What to know about Charlie Kirk memorial events in Greater Akron on his birthday, Oct. 14
Reporting by Anthony Thompson, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
