South Carolina held a moment of silence for conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Saturday night before the Gamecocks’ football game against Vanderbilt, as campuses and professional sports organizations continued to pay tribute following his death.
The observance at Williams-Brice Stadium came as a packed crowd awaited kickoff. Kirk, 31, was shot on Wednesday around 12:20 p.m. local time on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem while surrounded by students at an event he was hosting. Authorities arrested a suspected shooter, identified as Tyler Robinson, on Friday.
Kirk’s death prompted tributes across the sports world and on college campuses. The NFL observed a moment of silence before Thursday night’s game between the Green Bay Packers and the Washington Commanders. Major league and racing figures also paid public tribute: a Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher wrote Kirk’s name on his cap, and NASCAR driver Christopher Bell dedicated his victory at Bristol Motor Speedway to Kirk.
Students and campus chapters of conservative organizations said Kirk’s work influenced a new generation of activists. "He inspired us to not be afraid to use our voice; to not be afraid to speak our minds," Mia Weathers, president of the University of South Carolina chapter of Turning Point USA, told local news outlet Count on 2 News. "He inspired us to just keep fighting for what we believed in, and he just paved the way and laid the foundation for a lot of us."
The shooting unfolded as Kirk was beginning his event on the Utah Valley campus. Local law enforcement said he was struck by a single bullet. Details about the investigation and any possible motive have been limited publicly as authorities continue their inquiry and legal processes surrounding the arrest.
At Williams-Brice Stadium, the moment of silence was among several public acknowledgments on Saturday evening that reflected the broader response to the killing. Other universities and teams have similarly paused to recognize Kirk, underscoring the impact of his role as a national conservative organizer and commentator on college campuses.
South Carolina and Vanderbilt proceeded with their scheduled game following the observance. The incident in Orem and the subsequent arrest remain the subject of ongoing law enforcement and prosecutorial review.