Hundreds gathered at Estero Community Park to mourn Charlie Kirk, driven by a deep sense of grief and community. Two Florida Gulf Coast University students, Elijah Thompson and Kiera Rodgers, organized the vigil through social media and word of mouth, without backing from any organization.
"Spain, Germany, South Africa, England, Germany. All these other countries are weighing in on our tragedy," said FGCU senior Kiera Rodgers.
The event drew a large crowd, including Charles Smythe and his family. His son, Matthew, held an American flag as a symbol of unity and hope.
"Even though they're young, I feel the influence this could make on the boys," said Smythe, expressing his desire for his children to learn from the event.
Smythe shared his hopes for his sons, emphasizing the importance of community and compassion.
"A sense of community as what I did, that it's, it's okay to make mistakes here and there, but to never be hateful. So always be, always be welcoming, to always do the right thing," he said.
Myra Moreno, another FGCU senior, found solace in the gathering.
"I've been devastated the whole past week thinking that it was just me, and then to see all this, brothers and sisters, you know, just going through the same as me. It made me feel, you know, connected to them," said Moreno.
The vigil, marked by music and candlelight, created a space for reflection.