‘Impact and contribution.’ 100s mourn Charlie Kirk at Tri-Cities candlelight vigil
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- Hundreds attended a Richland vigil honoring Charlie Kirk's conservative legacy.
- Speakers praised Kirk's influence on youth engagement and Christian values.
- Community leaders urged unity, civil discourse, and continuation of Kirk's mission.
A candlelight vigil for conservative influencer Charlie Kirk drew hundreds to Queensgate Drive Saturday.
The shooting of Kirk, 31, on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, last week has sent shockwaves through the conservative world, prompting vigils across the country.
Mourners filled the lawn in front of Sterling’s Restaurant in Richland with many of them holding candles, some with signs and a number of American flags.
Organizer Hayley Hoyt praised the turnout and the impact Kirk had on the community and the Republican Party.
When she started advertising the event on social media, she said people questioned why she wasn’t holding events for other tragedies.
“Why are we celebrating one man, when other people have been taken away or had something terrible happen to them?” she said. “Why are so many people coming together for Charlie Kirk? And I had some Jesus time, and Jesus really put two words in my brain all day long. And those words were impact and contribution.”
Kirk was the head of Turning Point USA, and a prominent advocate of conservative causes on college campuses. Hoyt credited him for bringing more young people into the conservative movement.
“I feel like he’s one of the most impactful people in our generation,” Hoyt said. “I really hope that we take this time from Charlie’s lessons and think about that.”
She also urged people to love one another regardless of each others opinions. She said people can disagree with each other, and still take care of each other.
Impact on conservatives and Christians
Joe Cotta, head pastor at Harvest Valley Calvary Chapel and a former state House of Representatives candidate, called Kirk a bridge between conservatives and Christians.
“He was pretty amazing,” Cotta said. “When I was campaigning ... I’d come into contact with these kids that were in Turning Point USA. They were just awesome kids. These kids, they would look you in the eye when they talk to you. They have this confidence. They have this hope about how they’re going to make the world a better place and influence it for Jesus.”
Kennewick School Board Vice President Micah Valentine told the crowd that they are “fighting for the soul of our nation.”
“I want to talk a little bit about free speech. I want to talk about how the family is under attack. I want to talk about how we can move forward through this.
“I believe the number one thing Satan wants to do is destroy the family. If he can destroy the family, if he can turn boys into girls, if he can separate families, if he can divide families by hate, he wins.”
He told the crowd that it was their job to continue with Kirk’s message.
He also urged people to engage with those they disagreed with peacefully. He told the crowd that they needed to understand the other side’s arguments.
He noted that when he posted about Kirk, he was called a bigot and a racist.
“I don’t actually care if someone is this or is that,” he said. “What I want to do is I want to be a really good dad and I want to be a really good husband and I want to lead the kids of our community in a way that they grow up and love our country.”
This story was originally published September 14, 2025 at 1:30 PM.