Colorado State University, which would have been the second stop on conservative commentator Charlie Kirk’s “The American Comeback Tour,” will be hosting a vigil Thursday in his honor.
The university, situated in Fort Collins, Colorado, was initially planning on hosting Kirk’s Q&A speaking event, where supporters at the school’s Turning Point USA chapter would support Kirk, and others could come to debate issues with the activist.
Now, the organization and university will host a vigil at the school’s Canvas Stadium on Thursday.
Kirk was shot and killed at the first stop on his speaking tour last week at Utah Valley University. He has received an outpouring of love from Turning Point USA chapters and supporters across the country, including President Donald Trump and other Republican lawmakers.
It was initially unknown what would happen to Kirk’s tour and other assets, including his popular podcast show. Vice President JD Vance appeared on the podcast Monday.
Colorado State University President Amy Parsons shared a message with the community that Kirk’s death demonstrates the “severity of the nation’s polarization.”
“We anticipate that student organizations will continue to host various events in the coming weeks at CSU and on campuses across the country,” she said. “While we welcome debate, dialogue and peaceful protest, we will not tolerate threats, intimidation or acts of violence.”
The university said Tuesday it was prepared to serve as a venue for externally organized events, including the Turning Point event, which was later announced as a vigil, and an event titled “For free speech. Against political violence” in the student center.
“Following tragic events last week at another university, CSU proactively reached out to student organizations and external groups, asking them to consider moving their events to campus spaces that would allow for increased security,” the university said. “All groups were receptive to the conversation and either worked with the university to select more secure spaces or decided not to move forward with their events at this time.”
Both events will have a clear-bag policy and require attendees to go through metal detectors. The school noted that it is illegal under state law to carry a firearm in the open or concealed.