Hundreds gathered Sunday night in the Utah hometown of alleged gunman Tyler Robinson to honor Charlie Kirk, mourn with his family, and acknowledge the pain of Robinson’s relatives.

Organizer Jordan Hess told the crowd he was “deeply moved” by their attendance. 

“I’m grateful that everyone felt the desire and the need to be here in the spirit of community tonight,” he said, clearly emotional.

Hess said the event was organized to “celebrate who we are as Americans – and to mourn … We gather today not as Democrats or Republicans, not as left or right, not as different races or believers of different religions but as citizens of the greatest, most enduring experiment of self-government that the world has ever known.”

Attendees listen as speakers call for unity during a vigil in Washington City, Utah, on Sept. 14, 2025. (Fox News Digital)

“It’s better to talk through things as opposed to taking measures into your own hands that harm somebody else,” he said, noting that violence runs against the values America was built on.

A fan of Kirk, Holyoak described him as “an inspiring young person that got it real early.” He admired how Kirk listened to opposing opinions, treated people with respect, and encouraged open conversation.

“I just think we all need to act that way,” he said.

For him, the vigil was about honoring Kirk’s legacy while urging the community – and the country – to return to dialogue over conflict.

Utah Tech University President Shane Smeed told mourners the vigil was a moment for unity and healing. Speaking personally and not in his official role, Smeed called the past week “an incredibly difficult, tragic week” and urged the community to lean on faith instead of fear.

He reflected on the meaning of unity, describing it as harmony and oneness, and used the image of Canadian geese flying in formation to illustrate how individuals support one another — and what happens when one falls behind. True unity, he said, means ensuring no one is left alone. “To be peacemakers, we have to strive to remove contention and hate in our lives,” Smeed said.

He closed with a prayer for peace, reminding the community that healing would come only through choosing dialogue, compassion, and unity.