Hundreds gather at Presque Isle Park to honor the life and legacy of conservative activist Charlie Kirk as he was laid to rest on Sunday. (Journal photo by Abby LaForest)

MARQUETTE — Hundreds showed up and gathered at a memorial to mourn the death and honor the legacy of Charlie Kirk at Presque Isle Park on Sunday.

Kirk, a prominent right-wing activist and co-founder of the nonprofit Turning Point USA, was fatally shot at a TPUSA public debate event on September 10 at the Utah Valley University campus. He was laid to rest in Phoenix, Arizona after a public memorial service at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sunday.

The Sunday afternoon event was introduced by Kayla Wikstrom and Danielle Walin, President of the Upper Peninsula Republican Women’s Club. Various speakers took their time to share their connections to Kirk, advocate for the Christian faith and TPUSA’s mission, and encourage the crowd to continue on with the work that Charlie started while he was alive. Jill Weingarten, a U.S. Army veteran, also led the crowd in song.

“The best way to honor him is to continue on being planters of the same seeds that he did for free speech, for hope, for change, for deliverance, that we are not supposed to be coming to defeat each other, but to have deliverance for each other,” Wikstrom shared with the crowd.

Following the memorial, attendees were welcome to mingle and connect with one another, bonding over their shared beliefs and values.

More information about Kirk and TPUSA’s mission can be found online at tpusa.com.

Abby LaForest can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 548. Her email address is alaforest@miningjournal.net.