Mid-Missouri community gathers to honor the life of political activist Charlie Kirk
Alison Patton
Editor’s note: A spelling error has been corrected.
BOONVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ)
When Heather Overstreet heard about Charlie Kirk’s death, she knew she had to gather the community.
“I think Charlie once said that once society stops having conversations between each other, that’s when bad things happen,” Overstreet said.
Kirk was a conservative political activist and the founder of Turning Point USA. He was shot and killed while speaking at an event on the Utah Valley University campus Wednesday.
22-year-old Tyler Robinson allegedly shot Kirk and is in custody, according to an ABC News report.
Overstreet and about eleven other people set up the Cooper County Fairgrounds to be a space where people can connect with each other, despite the circumstances. She organized the event within 48 hours and roughly 50 people attended.
Overstreet gave a speech at the start of the event, along with state Rep. Tim Taylor (R-Bunceton). Taylor was in his office at the Capitol trying to work through the noise of hundreds of protesters, who were protesting the special session, when he got the news of Kirk’s death.
Taylor said he isn’t afraid of political violence.
“I’ve been in the military, I’ve been in emergency services, I’ve seen scary stuff,” Taylor said. “It does definitely make me remember that I need to be aware of my surroundings and aware of what’s going on.”
U.S. Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO) is pausing public appearances in light of Kirk’s death.
Susie Thoma is a member of the Cooper County Republicans. She attended Saturday’s event to support her community and carry on Kirk’s commitment to having a conversation.
“It’s heartbreaking that we had a soldier of the Lord taken from us too early,” Thoma said. “We must stand for what he stood for.”