Hundreds of people gathered in downtown Ocala on Saturday for a prayer vigil honoring the late Charlie Kirk, just ten days after the religious and political activist was assassinated during a speaking engagement in Utah.
The Historic Downtown Square in Ocala was filled with local residents clad in red, white, and blue, who gathered for prayer on Saturday afternoon.
The prayer vigil brought hundreds together to pray for Kirk’s widow, Erika, and his two young children. All three of Kirk’s family members were present when he was shot and killed in Orem, Utah on September 10.
In addition to Kirk and his family, those that gathered prayed for the community and country.
Led by Adam Crawford, the event was organized by Lance and Haley Mosher, Kendall Tucker and Crawford. Tucker’s brother, Dr. Austin Tucker, led the opening prayer, and Chase Ingram also took the stage during the event.
The leaders said they thought about hosting the prayer vigil less than a week ago, threw together a flyer, and shared it across social media.
During brief comments to open the ceremony, Kendall, who released a new song praising the country this week, took the time to mention that Kirk would want his faith and the name of Jesus to be at the forefront of the activities.
After additional comments, Dr. Tucker took the stage to lead the crowd in its first prayer of the day.
As the event continued, more individuals, families, and passersby stopped to take part. In total, Ocala-News.com counted approximately 500 individuals during the time we were at the event.
Last week, local demonstrators shared thoughts in light of Kirk‘s shooting that took place just days before. Local political representatives and leaders took the opportunity to speak.
In the days leading up to Saturday’s event, Ocala-News.com was the only local news source to publicize the prayer vigil, which was held from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
On Sunday, a national memorial service will be held for Kirk in Glendale, Arizona. That event will feature remarks from President Donald J. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, among others.
Kirk was shot and killed during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Wednesday, September 10. A husband and father of two, Kirk’s wife, Erika, and young children were in attendance at the event where he was fatally shot.
In the days since Kirk’s assassination, the organization he founded, Turning Point USA, has reportedly received over 50,000 inquiries for new chapters across high schools and colleges in the United States.
Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012 to advocate for conservative politics on high school, college, and university campuses.
Did you attend Saturday’s prayer vigil for Charlie Kirk in Ocala? Share your comments, experiences, and photos with us. If you have more to say on the topic, write a letter to the editor.
UPDATE: This story was amended to clarify the event organizers.