(Editor’s Note: This series on Restoring Gen Z’s Identity is dedicated to Charlie Kirk, 31, who was shot in Provo, Utah, on Sept. 10th at noon while on stage at his “American Comeback tour” at Utah Valley University while answering a question on transgenderism and violence. He was married to Erika Frantzve, Miss Arizona 2012, and father of two young children: a daughter born in Aug. 2022 and a son born in May 2024.)

CALIRED NEWS–Almost 200 came to the Redding City Hall Prayer Vigil to celebrate the life of Charlie Kirk (Oct. 14, 1993-Sept. 10, 2025) a conservative political commentator, activist, author, media personality, who co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 and served as its executive director. He was the chief executive officer of Turning Point Action, Turning Point Academy, and Turning Point Faith; president of Turning Point Endowment; and a member of the Council for National Policy.

Those who came to the Redding City Hall heard a blend of tributes that ranged from Redding City Council member Dr. Paul Dhanuka to Redding Valley Christian Fellowship retired Pastor Eric Hult.

They sang hymns and brought their candles to the half-hour 7 p.m. prayer vigil organized by local activists Katie Gorman, Patty Plumb and Garrett Hall.  Afterwards, many broke up into small groups and just talked privately.

Prayer vigils were held across the United States on the eve of 9-11 often organized by Turning Point USA campus chapters at colleges across the country. One was held at a church on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and another by the Arizona group of Catholics for Catholics in Scottsdale.  There was a candlelight vigil in Boise, Idaho that attracted 1,000. The New York Yankees held a moment of silence  ahead of Wednesday night’s game against the Detroit Tigers. A conservative media company The Loud Majority has announced a vigil for Saturday in New York.

California Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom, said on X that the attack on Kirk was “disgusting, vile, and reprehensible,” adding “in the United States of America, we must reject political violence in EVERY form.”

Charlie Kirk, 31, married to Erika Frantzve, Miss Arizona 2012 and father of two young children; a daughter born in Aug. 2022 and a son born in May, 2024, was killed on Sept. 10th while on stage at his “American Comeback tour” at Utah Valley University with 46,000 students in Orem while answering a question on transgenderism and violence.

President Donald J. Trump gave the fallen hero a tribute from the Oval Office of the White House.

Tributes were given from across America including from Vice President JD Vance, who re-posted the comments from President Donald J. Trump and Senator Marco Rubio, who called Kirk “an incredible husband and father and a Great American.”

In Memoriam:

Charlie Kirk’s Personal Pastor Rob McCoy: “My friend Charlie Kirk was murdered today by a coward. His life will be remembered for many wonderful things. He built it all with the power of the spoken word. He never used violence but was threatened every day with those who couldn’t contend with logic and truth. 

“And now they have done to my friend what evil always does. It takes away life. Charlie did not die, however, but instead, he has begun to truly live. His life was secured eternally by his savior, Jesus Christ. This truth allowed Charlie to face every threat with courage because he didn’t fear death.

“All evil knows is death, and they derive their power from it. Charlie lived for life and will be remembered for this. My heart is broken for his family, his wife Erica, his two precious children. Evil has not prevailed and it will not win.”

Dr. Kevin Roberts, President of The Heritage Foundation: “Today our country experienced a great loss. My friend Charlie Kirk was a devoted husband, exceptional father, and one of America’s brightest young leaders. He would talk to anyone. He loved America and her people. And he never stopped believing that our best days were ahead of us.

“In this moment of great pain and suffering, we can take some solace in knowing that Charlie was a Christian. We will pray for his family and that God grants eternal rest to his soul.

“Our country must be redeemed. We are on the brink of losing our soul as a nation. It is providential that the organization that Charlie founded and so bravely led was named Turning Point. His martyrdom must be a turning point for our country.”

South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace: “Our hearts break for the Kirk family, Turning Point USA, and all who had the privilege of knowing Charlie personally. He was a beacon of true leadership, rooted deeply in his faith as a Chrsitian, his principles as a conservative, and his integrity as a man. Charlie was one of the brightest lights of our time, whose sole mission was to share the word of God and promote peace. Tragically, he was senselessly taken from us in cold blood.”

(Editor’s Note: President Donald J. Trump has asked that all flags be lowered to half-mast until 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15.)

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CaliRed News is a news site posted on Making California Red by the 2028 elections through reaching Gen Z (ages 13-28), Hispanics, and Christians with biblical traditional values and their pastors. CaiRed News (founder and senior writer is Mike Hernandez) reports on political, business, community, nonprofit, and church news.

Mike Hernandez is co-founder of the Citizens Journal–Ventura County’s online news service and writes for CitizensJournal.net and MountainTopMedia.com. He is a former Southern California daily newspaper journalist and religion and news editor, writer of “Prayer Over News Daily” and edits the weekly “Stories Speak Volumes” and other columns. Mr. Hernandez mentors citizen journalists and can be contacted here.