Livia Ziskey – Sept 18, 2025 – Lincoln Journal Star

My cmnt: Click the LJS link above to read entire article and to see more photos of the event. I have edited the excerpt below for clarity and accuracy.

A week after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, students and community members gathered Wednesday night outside the Nebraska Union on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln City Campus to remember the life of the late conservative activist.

“Charlie Kirk is a martyr of the Christian faith and an American hero,” said Nebraska volleyball player Rebekah Allick, tears rolling down her face as she stood at a podium in front of the crowd of nearly one thousand people.

Husker volleyball player Rebekah Allick, left, speaks during a vigil for Charlie Kirk at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on Wednesday as Gov. Jim Pillen looks on. ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE, Journal Star

Gov. Jim Pillen stood beside Allick, patting her on the shoulder. He asked the crowd to raise their candles in the air.

“Set our hearts on fire,” Pillen said.

As the vigil continued, the all-ages crowd sang “Amazing Grace” and waved their arms. Attendees’ faces glowed by candlelight as they bowed their heads in prayer — some waving American flags, others wearing “Make America Great Again” hats.

The Wednesday evening vigil was organized by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s chapter of Turning Point USA, a student-focused conservative nonprofit founded by Kirk when he was 18. He died at 31 after he was fatally shot while speaking to students Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University. 

While Kirk’s views were often polarizing, he found a niche with young conservatives like Zoe Meinke, a UNL freshman studying political science.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln sophomores Bethany Fox, second from left, and Brayden Ebbers, third from left, attend a vigil for Charlie Kirk on Wednesday outside the Nebraska Union. “Charlie was such a light in this world,” Fox said. “He was such a phenomenal role model, and I hope that everybody can remember him for his courage.” ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE, Journal Star

“Charlie was someone that had a powerful voice and inspired a lot of people my age,” Meinke said. “It’s crazy the movement that he created in such a short time, and I think it’s awful that his wife and kids and everyone that loves him has to go through this.”

At the beginning of the vigil, Ethnie Barnhouse, president of UNL’s Turning Point chapter, spoke about Kirk’s impact on her life and the three messages she hoped for the crowd to take away: share the Gospel, love family and love the truth.

“We lost one of the greats,” Barnhouse said.

She called on the community to get involved in Turning Point USA and continue to spread Kirk’s message.

Blair local Sandy Mullen, from left, Amarillo Mullen and Les Mullen hold candles during a vigil for Charlie Kirk on Wednesday outside the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Nebraska Union. ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE, Journal Star