Charlie Kirk Candlelight Vigil Planned In Abington

ABINGTON TOWNSHIP, PA — A candlelight vigil is planned for Wednesday night to remember controversial commentator Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed on a Utah college campus earlier this month.

Joseph Rooney, a Republican running for the Abington School Board, is organizing the vigil, and on Monday, received approval from Police Chief Patrick Malloy and Township Manager Christopher Christman to hold it. See the flyer below

Rooney told Patch on Monday that the vigil will be held between 6-7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Abington Township Building flagpole.

"Our rally will be peaceful and prayerful," he said.

Rooney said he has lined up several speakers and invited community residents for a one-hour vigil of prayer, reflection, and remembrance for both Kirk and the police officer recently killed in York County.

Kirk rose to prominence as a teenager in 2012 as the co-founder of Turning Point USA, a student organization that became active in culture war issues and debates on college campuses.

It rapidly grew into one of the most widespread and influential conservative media outlets and organizations in the nation. In the years since, Kirk has become a staunch Trump ally and has been praised effusively by the president himself.

Lawmakers and leaders in Montgomery County responded to the political violence following Kirk's assassination. A 22-year-old is in custody for the fatal shooting.

Kirk's event was at Utah Valley University in Orem, about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City. A university spokeswoman, Ellen Treanor, told the New York Times that Kirk was struck about 20 minutes after he began speaking on campus. She said a suspect had fired at Kirk from the Losee Center, a building about 200 yards away.

(Joseph Rooney)