From Staff Reports 

FOREST CITY, N.C. — Just a day after political activist and free speech advocate Charlie Kirk, 31, was assassinated in Utah, he was honored in Western North Carolina on the evening of Sept. 11.

“More than a hundred people gathered in Rutherford County to grieve, pray and hope that the young activist's message lives on,” Asheville television station WLOS (News 13) reported later Sept. 11.

Meanwhile, a “candlelight prayer vigil” was scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 15 in front of the Historic Courthouse on Main Street in downtown Hendersonville. 

(Because of the Asheville Daily Planet’s mid-morning Sept. 15 press deadline for this edition, a follow-up story on Hendersonville’s Kirk vigil will appear in the newspaper’s next edition.) 

Meanwhile, Forest City’s Kirk vigil was held just before sunset at the town’s Pavilion on Park Square. 

“While there were many reasons for people showing up, most of those News 13 spoke with say they appreciated how the conservative leader preached a message of God,” News 13 stated.

The TV station quoted Rutherford resident Kylee Fariss as saying the following at Forest City’s Charlie Kirk vigil:

“Being able to communicate, whether we had a difference of opinion or not, that was his goal. He had an open mic for people to come, whether or not they agreed or disagreed.

“A lot of times we want to turn people off because we don’t agree, we want to cut them off, but that’s not right, it’s not what he stood for.”

Further, News 13 reported, “Local political and religious leaders at the vigil also spoke about people from all walks of life, regardless of political views, coming together.”

News 13’s “Comment Bubble” that followed its story included the following assertions:

• IfYouArentLaughinYoureCryin — “I didn’t agree with everything he said... or everything ANYONE has ever said (including myself, believe it or not); but NO ONE deserves to DIE for an opinion or series of opinions. And I do mean ANYONE; right, left, middle, up down, black, white, gay or not gay ... one of the 11 other categories I don’t understand. I faithfully served this country as a soldier and I hate to see people dying on any political side because they voiced their opinions, reasonably exercising their 1st amendment rights. I worry this will eventually descend into a political climate akin to the ‘Dirty War’ Argentina from 1976-1983, where people would randomly be killed or disappeared because they were on opposing sides of a political divide. This isn’t America. We can and need to do better.” 

• Littlefoot — “Charlie  Kirk’s ideology did not and does not representation the American Constitution or American values, but they represent a white nationalist Nation. He promoted numerous far-right ideas and conspiracy theories, including Christian nationalism, a one-state religion, the ‘Great Replacement’ theory, and the unfounded claims conspiracy  of voter fraud. Critics were quick to pointed out Kirk’s racist and antisemitic comments. He was also known for attacking L.G.B.T.Q. rights, abortion rights, and efforts to  allowed Donald Trump a third term into the presidency which is against the Constitution.. so is this what the Christian Nationals represent? Because they’re not American values....”

• FarmerBrown —”Two things can be true at once.  I did not agree with him, but he had the 1st Amendment right to say it.  He was killed exercising that right. Not for breaking any law, but for telling people his ideas. He died for it. That is never ok.”

• johnbarleycorn — “Turning Point USA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2012 by Charlie Kirk. The organization’s mission is to identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote the principles of fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government.”

• TrumperThumper — “You left out the repeal of the Civil Rights Act. He was real big on that! Charlie Kirk also opposed women having jobs or voting. He was a real peach.”

• DomBostich9 — “Oh, the CRA the Dems fought tooth and nail and filibustered against? Why did Kirk believe the CRA was a mistake? And where did Kirk say the CRA “should be repealed”? I cannot find the quote.”

• Mountain.Girl — “Charlie’s message to all was simply the saving grace of God. That God doesn’t create ‘mistakes.’ He is not the father of lies or confusion in which so many of our youth have been wrongly indoctrinated. He wanted these young people to know in Christ there is freedom and Truth. Freedom from all confusion or doubt. But especially freedom from eternity in hell. And Charlie presented his message with love and compassion toward those he debated with. Never with condemnation or shame. His message was as powerful as it was moving. Through Charlie’s message, the younger generation was enlightened on absolute Truth. Because one might not believe or agree with God’s Word doesn’t change the fact that it is true and everlasting!”

• GoodBeer — “Show me a MAGA who would do what Jesus would do and not condemn someone? So far I haven’t seen it. All I see is using the umbrella of Christianity to take power and take power away from people. They seem to focus on the Old Testament which was REPLACED by the New Testament. This often forgotten by “good Christians,” especially those in government.”

• Liberalsareweak101 — “You see that is the whole point of his message If someone is gay or bi, none of that plus stuff that’s your decision, however don’t ask me to celebrate it, have a parade or tell a man he is a women because he is taking female hormones. It’s disrespectful to women .You live your life I live my life. I don’t force my opinion on you; you don’t force your opinion on me . And no matter what someone’s opinion is, no one should be killed for it. That’s what Freedom of Speech is . 

“That’s why the flags are at half staff and that why He Represents America.”

• Qwertyuiopasdfg — “Christian values are pro-life and anti-sin, so you’ll never agree with Christian values. Might as well accept that.”

• TrumperThumper — “Are you one of those people that thinks we are a Christian nation, ignoring the fact that the framers took the time to actually write out “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion”?

• Lungdoc01 — “Have you ever watched him speak for more than 5 seconds on YouTube, or is this what your commanders have told you?”

• TrumperThumper — “I wonder if the young ladies in that photo are aware of what kind of life Charlie Kirk expected them to lead.  Do they have ambitions or dreams of their own, or do they just wish to be domestic baby factories with no free will?”

• Lungdoc01 — “You clearly don’t know Charlie’s full position.

“How’s it working for our ‘liberated’ woman slaving away for ‘the man?’”

• TrumperThumper — “I clearly do, as I have been watching him spew hate for years. But go ahead and tell us what I am missing?” 

OldGoat164 — “The word of God is not hate.”

• Lungdoc01 — “Everything. Your hatred blinds you.”