Words by August Eberle PZ ’29, Graphic by Graphic by Xanthe McGrath SC ’29 and Carter Haroza PZ ’29

On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk was shot while hosting a public engagement and debate booth at Utah Valley University (UVU), and later died at the hospital. On September 11, 2025 at 9:00 pm, my friend and I (another Pitzer student) were removed from a vigil for Kirk held at the Veterans Fountain Kravis Lower Court at Claremont McKenna College. The vigil was sponsored and led by members of the Claremont Colleges College Republicans (CCCR) and Turning Point USA (TPUSA). 

I decided to dress considerately for the occasion, both to fit in and demonstrate respect. I encouraged my friend to do the same. We wore what we thought was appropriate: polos, a black jacket, straight-leg jeans, and a pair of boots. It seemed neutral enough, so we walked to CMC.

As we approached the Kravis Lower Court, the path to the vigil was adorned with small candles, some blown out from the wind. The candles spiraled down a staircase directly to a small crowd of quiet people. At the end of the candlelit path was a picture of Charlie Kirk with his fist in the air, and an unlit crucifix candle in front of him.

I had one intention entering the vigil: to be an observer. Despite no provocation on our part, my friend and I were questioned immediately. We were approached by a TPUSA member, who asked for our names and asked what we were doing at the vigil. It was as if they knew everyone else there except for us or had decided that something about our appearance made us different enough to arouse suspicion. 

The question was odd, given the fact that everyone was at the vigil for presumably the same reason. In the spirit of disclosure, we answered that we were there as “neutral goers.” It was implied that everyone who was there was there to pay respect. 

“Are you from Pitzer?” Our answer triggered a series of rushed responses from the TPUSA member in what felt like a panic; words like “worried” and “trolls” were thrown around. We were asked, “Are you here seriously or are you here to protest?”

This interaction caught us off guard; it made this situation personal. We, as Pitzer students, were asked if we were at a vigil to make fun of it, just because we look like Pitzer students.

As the TPUSA member was speaking to us, they were interrupted. A person who labeled themselves as a CCCR representative interrupted and told us, “You are not legally allowed to speak to any TPUSA members if you work for any news or journalist organisation … If you want to stay, you are going to have to respect our rules.” 

I have found no information regarding the legality of speaking to any TPUSA members or supporters of the organization. I responded to their terms with my name and my friend’s name, and I formally asked for an interview with them instead of the TPUSA member, who when I asked them, responded, “Yes, only if you bring weed, it’s a necessity.” 

Both my friend and I were handed a homemade vigil candle, crafted with a condiment container and a taper candle, and were asked to light it ourselves because “you guys are Pitzer students, you know how to light things.” As neutral attendees, we put the candles down and waited for the ceremony to begin. The CCCR member who originally talked to us about legality was now talking of their experience as an “acolyte” of Charlie Kirk, and how the experience of meeting him was the “awakening moment in [their] life.” 

Right after the speech and ceremony, we were asked to leave “immediately.” Security stood by the staircase as we walked up and away from the vigil that was open to the public; they gave no reason for why we had to leave, and security prevented us from coming back. As we walked away, the people at the Charlie Kirk vigil, TPUSA members, and CCCR members alike sang the national anthem together: “Land of the free, home of the brave.” Notably, CMC was ranked number one in the nation in the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s (FIRE) Free Speech Rankings. I’ll let the irony speak for itself.