Hundreds of people attended a memorial and prayer vigil for conservative political activist Charlie Kirk at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington on Sunday night, where top Republican figures urged mourners to honor his legacy amid grief following his fatal shooting last week.
Lines of people, many wearing black or shirts and pins bearing the word "freedom," formed outside the venue as the memorial reached seating capacity and some attendees remained in the lobby. Inside the hall, parents brought young children who ran in the aisles while congregants sang praise and worship songs at a faith-centered service.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., described a mix of "unspeakable sadness and grief and anger and even fear" and said Kirk would not want supporters to be "overcome by despair." "The best way to honor his memory and to honor his unmatched legacy is to live as Charlie did," Johnson said.
Other speakers at the memorial included White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Leavitt recalled Kirk's encouragement to young people and his emphasis on family, saying he urged young people to marry and have children and called that "our most important mission on this earth."
Gabbard reflected on Kirk's impact despite his life being cut short at 31, asking mourners to consider how they make the most of the time they have. Kennedy, who said he and Kirk had become "spiritual brothers," spoke about coping with loss and shared a personal anecdote about the lasting absence left by a loved one's death and the need to build oneself around that loss.
Mourners held candles and sang during the vigil. Photographs from the service show congregants praying and filling the Kennedy Center's interior as others waited outside to enter.
Kirk was shot and killed last week during an event at Utah Valley University. In addition to the Washington memorial, vigils have been held elsewhere, including one in the alleged gunman's Utah hometown that also drew hundreds of mourners.
Organizers and attendees framed the Kennedy Center event as both a political and faith-oriented gathering. The service combined public remarks from political figures with worship elements and personal testimonies, reflecting the role Kirk played within conservative circles and among faith communities.
The fatal shooting prompted a wave of tributes from conservatives, and the memorials in the nation's capital and in Utah underscored the national attention the case has drawn. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting; officials have not publicly detailed a motive.
The memorial at the Kennedy Center took place on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. Organizers said the service was intended to provide a place for supporters to grieve and to celebrate what they described as Kirk's contributions to political activism and public life.