- Hundreds gathered at Utah State University to honor Charlie Kirk after his death.
- Kirk, a conservative activist, was shot at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.
- Utah Rep. Mike Petersen, of North Logan, encouraged students to stand up for their beliefs amid chaos.
LOGAN — Hundreds gathered at Utah State University Friday night to pray for Charlie Kirk's family and speak to his remembrance.
USU was the next campus Kirk, a conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was scheduled to visit in Utah.
Kirk was shot and killed while speaking with a crowd at Utah Valley University in Orem on Wednesday. The suspected gunman, Tyler Robinson, of Washington County, was identified and arrested the following evening.
At USU Friday night, song, prayer and candles lit the way at the quad. Students watched closely from surrounding buildings and closed off sidewalks.
USU sophomore Tate Martineau didn't know Charlie Kirk personally, but came to pay tribute to him.
"(It) was really special. I loved it," Martineau said.
Martineau had tickets for Kirk's campus event, which was scheduled for later in September.
"I had tickets; I was planning to be front row," Martineau said. "I would wait overnight if I needed to."
Instead of Kirk speaking, they now speak of him.
Rep. Mike Petersen, R-North Logan, who serves the area, spoke of Kirk's principles and focused on faith.
"Charlie must be smiling to know that there's this many people who believe what he does," Petersen said.
Petersen encouraged students to stand up for what they believe and not to feel fear in the midst of all the chaos.
"They want us to cower," Petersen said. "That was the purpose of the bullet. People talk about the right to free speech; well, what about my right to hear it? And I lost it, I lost the right to hear Charlie Kirk."
Martineau echoed Petersen's sentiment.
"Just stand for what you believe," Martineau said. "I think that's the main point that Charlie wanted to get across, and I'm going to try my best to do that."
