On Monday, September 15th, five days after Charlie Kirk was murdered, two powerful memorials unfolded in downtown Raleigh, drawing hundreds of people into a shared moment of remembrance and conviction. The event was organized via Facebook to great success, with over a thousand indicating interest in participation. Together these events illustrated how one man’s influence had ignited a movement far bigger than himself.
We interviewed one of the the event organizers, Kyle Stogoski, a NC State alum, about the experience.
“Before I published it, I had pretty low expectations to be honest. I anticipated maybe 200 people max who would come see it and even less would attend. I was pretty nervous, wondering how I was gonna corral everyone and just how many of the 1k+ interested would be there. Once I saw some news cameras setting up too, plus the news heli overhead, I was like ‘oh man, this is legit!'”
Hundreds showed up, as reported by WRAL News. Prayers were held, songs were sung, and heartfelt conversations were had. While there was some drama happening, the event largely went without a fuss.
Julian Carty, a TPUSA member who is currently enlisted with the Air Force, described the event as “peaceful and freeing.” Another individual by the name of Nolan Thomas, who is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biological and Agricultural Engineering Technology at NC State, also described the event as peaceful.
“When I was there, we talked about how Charlie Kirk impacted each one of us, and then sang amazing grace and prayed. It seemed that everyone had a good time and we felt as if we weren’t being held back by the world.”
A lineup of notable speakers reflected the breadth of Charlie Kirk’s impact. Kenny Xu, author, nonprofit founder, and key figure in the UNC/Harvard vs. Students for Fair Admissions case at the Supreme Court, brought national gravitas. Fred von Canon, a business owner and former congressional candidate, added a strong note of faith and leadership. Anna Scott Marsh, TPUSA’s first scholarship recipient in 2015 and a recent guest on Fox News, offered perspective as someone who had grown alongside the movement. Finally, Duane Ford, TPUSA’s Campus Outreach Coordinator, spoke with the energy of a rising new generation.
At the same time, another memorial unfolded behind the Halifax Mall. Current and former Turning Point staff gathered at 6:30 p.m. to pray, remember, and share stories.
“Many described Charlie as more than a leader, someone like family, even a father figure. Everyone who wanted to speak had the chance to share about his influence,” said Mattie Rainey, Chair for Turning Point Action Mom Coalition.
Attendees left Moore Square not just with memories but with marching orders: to grow chapters, mentor younger activists, and bring the message of free speech and faith to more campuses. Organizers say this moment is less about mourning and more about multiplying.
“I hope that everyone will be able to harness these turbulent emotions… It has to be a moment we capitalize on for motivation,” stressed Kyle Stogoski. Mattie Rainey echoed that sentiment, noting that since Charlie’s passing, over 53,000 people had inquired about joining or starting a TPUSA chapter.
“A powerful sign of momentum,” she said.
If you are interested in carrying Charlie’s legacy forward by writing for The Free Pack, please email Lauri Salovaara at lssalova@ncsu.edu.
