Despite a steady downpour on Sunday afternoon, over 30 people gathered in Craig to remember Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA who was assassinated at a Utah college campus on Sept. 10, at a memorial event organized by local resident Scott Lang.

Kirk, who rose to national prominence as the founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was known for his critiques of liberal politics, higher education and what he described as “cancel culture.”

Kirk was killed earlier this month at age 31 after being shot in the neck while addressing an audience at Utah Valley University.

The suspected shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was apprehended on Sept. 12 and charged with aggravated murder, among other charges.

The assassination prompted tributes and memorials among his supporters across the country.

Lang said turnout on Sunday in Craig exceeded his expectations, with attendees braving the weather to share in music, prayer and reflections on Kirk’s legacy. 

“We had a nicer crowd, more people than I expected, and they were extremely well-behaved,” said Lang in an interview with the newspaper. “The rain kind of put a damper on things a little bit, but other than that, it did really well.”

The gathering opened with remarks from Lang, who said he did not want the event to represent Kirk’s messaging, per se, but rather his willingness to speak out in the face of criticism. 

“In the kind of society we’re in now, with cancel culture and the way everybody hates everything and attacks everything, Charlie had the guts,” said Lang, summarizing his opening statement. “He had the courage to stand up, speak up, and fight for what he believed in.” 

“You can disagree on his messaging,” he continued, “but you have to admire a man who’s willing to go in front of people who he knew disagreed with him and say, ‘All right, let’s talk about it.'”

That willingness to act despite opposition, Lang added, was central to his decision to coordinate the memorial. 

“I wanted my community to see faith put into action — what that could look like, what that can be,” he said. “Everybody sits here going, ‘Wow, that’s too bad. Somebody should do something.’ Well, somebody did something. Charlie did something.”

“That is what I was trying to do with the memorial — I was trying to be the somebody,” he added. “So if you’re waiting for that change, be that somebody.”

The event featured live music from the John Wayne Band. One attendee held a sign that wrote “Never Surrender.” People in the audience ranged from older residents to younger couples, with some wearing “Make America Great Again” hats and American flag apparel.

Lang emphasized that his intention was not to draw focus to himself, but to underline the ways faith and action can intersect, both in Kirk’s public life and in local communities. 

“Charlie Kirk, no matter what you think of him, he was one man,” Lang said. “He was like a one-man army, and he started a revolution. So if you have the beliefs and the willingness to stand up for them, things can happen. Charlie Kirk is proof of that.”