{"id":2549,"date":"2025-09-20T20:28:03","date_gmt":"2025-09-21T00:28:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/?p=2549"},"modified":"2025-09-20T20:54:31","modified_gmt":"2025-09-21T00:54:31","slug":"holding-memorials-for-charlie-kirk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/?p=2549","title":{"rendered":"Holding Memorials for Charlie Kirk"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019s influence had ignited a movement far bigger than himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"http:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image0-1024x879.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2550 lazyload\"><noscript><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"879\" src=\"http:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image0-1024x879.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2550\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image0-1024x879.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image0-300x258.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image0-768x659.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image0-750x644.jpg 750w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image0.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Memorial event page on Facebook screenshotted at 1:37PM, a few hours before the event.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We interviewed one of the the event organizers, Kyle Stogoski, a NC State alum, about the experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;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 &#8216;oh man, this is legit!'&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"http:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image02-1-1024x478.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2558 lazyload\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"478\" src=\"http:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image02-1-1024x478.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2558\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image02-1-1024x478.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image02-1-300x140.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image02-1-768x359.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image02-1-1536x717.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image02-1-750x350.jpg 750w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image02-1-1140x532.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image02-1.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>By 6:43PM, 43 minutes after event start, Moore Square in downtown Raleigh was packed. (Image shared in the TPUSA NCSU GroupMe chat).<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hundreds showed up, as<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wral.com\/video\/hundreds-in-downtown-raleigh-for-event-remembering-charlie-kirk\/22160808\/\"> reported<\/a> 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Julian Carty, a TPUSA member who is currently enlisted with the Air Force, described the event as &#8220;peaceful and freeing.&#8221; 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;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&#8217;t being held back by the world.&#8221; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"http:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/2-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2569 lazyload\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/2-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2569\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/2-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/2-750x563.jpg 750w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/2-1140x855.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/2.jpg 1333w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Nearing the end of the memorial at Moore Square. Crowd listening in. (Image credit to Nolan Thomas).<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A lineup of notable speakers reflected the breadth of Charlie Kirk\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2019s Campus Outreach Coordinator, spoke with the energy of a rising new generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"http:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image03-1024x473.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2551 lazyload\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"473\" src=\"http:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image03-1024x473.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2551\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image03-1024x473.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image03-300x139.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image03-768x355.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image03-750x347.jpg 750w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image03-1140x527.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image03.jpg 1333w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Image captured near the end of the memorial. Two young women carry signs with one saying, &#8220;Justice for Charlie Kirk. He spoke. He stood&#8230; WE carry on. Freedom will not DIE.&#8221; while the other says, &#8220;One Life Ended But. His Mission MULTIPLIED. PATRIOTS ARE BORN.&#8221; (Image credit to Valerie Deschapell).<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMany 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,\u201d said Mattie Rainey, Chair for Turning Point Action Mom Coalition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/3-1024x768.jpg\" data-id=\"2568\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2568 lazyload\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"2568\" src=\"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/3-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2568\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/3-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/3-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/3-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/3-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/3-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/3-750x563.jpg 750w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/3-1140x855.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">At another memorial, people gathered outside the Halifax Mall around 6:30PM. (Image credit to Mattie Rainey).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/4-1024x768.jpg\" data-id=\"2567\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2567 lazyload\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"2567\" src=\"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/4-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2567\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/4-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/4-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/4-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/4-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/4-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/4-750x563.jpg 750w, https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/4-1140x855.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The crowd listens as each shared what Charlie meant to them. (Image credit to Mattie Rainey).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI hope that everyone will be able to harness these turbulent emotions\u2026 It has to be a moment we capitalize on for motivation,\u201d stressed Kyle Stogoski. Mattie Rainey echoed that sentiment, noting that since Charlie&#8217;s passing, over 53,000 people had inquired about joining or starting a TPUSA chapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;A powerful sign of momentum,&#8221; she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>If you are interested in carrying Charlie&#8217;s legacy forward by writing for The Free Pack, please email Lauri Salovaara at lssalova@ncsu.edu<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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\u2019s influence [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":46,"featured_media":2587,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard"},"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"jnews_post_split":[],"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[384,6],"tags":[10,385,49],"ppma_author":[309,383],"class_list":["post-2549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-charlie-kirk","category-news","tag-featured","tag-kirk","tag-news"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"authors":[{"term_id":309,"user_id":46,"is_guest":0,"slug":"lauri-salovaara","display_name":"Lauri Salovaara","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Helen-Hill.jpg","url2x":"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Helen-Hill.jpg"},"author_category":"1","user_url":"","last_name":"Salovaara","first_name":"Lauri","job_title":"","description":"Editor-in-Chief at The Free Pack &amp; a Graduate pursuing a Master's in Public Administration at NC State."},{"term_id":383,"user_id":95,"is_guest":0,"slug":"wadeyn-norris","display_name":"Wadeyn Norris","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/thumbnail_IMG_4968.jpg","url2x":"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/thumbnail_IMG_4968.jpg"},"author_category":"1","user_url":"","last_name":"","first_name":"","job_title":"","description":"Wadeyn Norris is a Writer for The Free Pack. As a current junior, he is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at NC State."}],"amp_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Adobe-Express-file.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2549","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/46"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2549"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2549\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2594,"href":"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2549\/revisions\/2594"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2587"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2549"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2549"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2549"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefreepack.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fppma_author&post=2549"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}