Organizers of a vigil to remember Charlie Kirk at the University of New Hampshire on Wednesday evening say they hope to accomplish two things at the event.
“Obviously, we want to honor and remember Charlie,” said state Rep. Sam Farrington (R-Rochester), a senior in the UNH economics department. “We also want people to know there are conservatives on campus and we aren’t hiding or slowing down.”
Kirk was assassinated on Sept. 10 during a campus appearance at Utah Valley University. On Tuesday, the shooter was formally charged with his murder. Utah prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty.
Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA, has been active on college campuses for years, helping organize and energize right-leaning students. UNH is a solidly blue campus — Joe Biden carried Durham with 72 percent of the vote last year — but Farrington said he’s “excited about supporting conservative college students.”
“We think we’re going to have a big crowd.”
The UNH students are getting some outside help. Bill O’Brien, former New Hampshire speaker of the House and host of the state’s regular center-right meeting, sent out a call for Republicans to attend.
“Please join those of us in the center-right community at this vigil as we honor Charlie Kirk and throw light on the darkness of the Democrat Party and its eliminationist and dehumanizing rhetoric,” O’Brien wrote.
Farrington said he’s fielding lots of requests for information about TPUSA at UNH. And the national organization announced Tuesday that, “in the past six days, TPUSA has received 54,000+ requests from high school and college students nationwide to start a chapter or get involved with an existing chapter.”
State Sen. Dan Innis (R-Bradford), a UNH professor and candidate for U.S. Senate, told NHJournal he’s planning to attend the vigil. He said he’s disturbed, but not surprised, by reports there may be protesters at the vigil.
“The left is at a place where they are protesting people mourning someone’s death. It’s sickening.”
Not all Democrats feel that way. Farrington invited several prominent Democrats, including 1st Congressional District candidate Stefany Shaheen, daughter of U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.
“I heard back from a member of her staff that she has another commitment and is unable to attend. They also sent me a statement from her,” Farrington said.
The statement from Shaheen reads: “Violence has no place in our politics or our country. Our prayers are with Charlie’s loved ones and the Utah Valley community following this deadly shooting.”
Farrington said he’s also reached out to U.S. Reps. Maggie Goodlander and Chris Pappas. The latter was one of just six Democrats who attended a vigil for Kirk in the U.S. Capitol on Monday.
Kirk is being remembered as an effective political operative who has helped Republicans reach younger voters, men in particular. And his death — along with the response to it — is generating political stories of its own.
State Rep. Mike Belcher (R-Wakefield) and House Majority Leader Jason Osborne (R-Auburn) announced legislative proposals on Tuesday inspired by Kirk and his assassination.
One is the “Countering Hate And Revolutionary Leftist Indoctrination in Education (CHARLIE) Act,” which they say will “end taxpayer-funded indoctrination and restore schools to their rightful purpose: teaching truth, preparing students for success, and strengthening our country.”
In a statement, Belcher said Granite State schools “have been hijacked by woke activists who wield education as a weapon to indoctrinate kids with Marxist ideology. Our children deserve a real education. They are sent to school to learn math, science, reading, and civics that prepare them to think critically and succeed in life.”
NEA New Hampshire President Megan Tuttle told WMUR her union objects to the proposal.
“At this moment, it is alarming that some anti-public education politicians are ‘turning up the heat’ and directing unfounded enmity toward the dedicated professionals Granite Staters trust to teach their children,” said Tuttle.
At least two Granite State teachers are already under investigation for publicly celebrating Kirk’s death. Asked by NHJournal about this trend among educators, Tuttle declined to respond.
Osborne is also proposing an amendment to the state’s Public Employee Freedom of Expression Act. It guarantees that public employees have the right to “freely discuss and give opinions as an individual on all matters concerning any government entity and its policies,” except for matters that are privileged or confidential.
Osborne’s amendment would clarify that immunity does not extend to public employees who glorify, condone, or celebrate violence against American leaders.
“Free speech does not mean a blank check from taxpayers for those who cheer the assassination of journalists, candidates, or civic leaders. New Hampshire will not fund the advocacy of murder and assassinations,” Osborne said.
Farrington says his goal Wednesday night is to promote conversation, not protest.
“We want to show that conservatives exist on campus, but we also want to remember Charlie and continue his legacy by engaging in dialogue, like he did.”
