By Geena Monahan—For the North Star Reporter
More than 200 people gathered at the Veterans Park gazebo in North Attleborough on Monday, Sept. 22, to attend a vigil and memorial hosted by Plainville Baptist Church in remembrance of political activist and media personality Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated nearly two weeks ago.
On Sept. 10, Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at a TPUSA public debate on the Utah Valley University campus. Authorities arrested the suspected shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, in Washington, Utah, on Sept. 12.
The “Jesus is the Turning Point Rally and Vigil for Family, Freedom and Faith” featured speeches from local pastors, prayers and hymns. The event was held to bring the community together in support of freedom of speech, law and order, freedom of religious expression, and to remember an “American patriot and hero to millions.”
Harold Crowell, a founding member of the Plainville Baptist Church, led the vigil and told the North Star Reporter he felt compelled to act as soon as he learned of Kirk’s shooting. After speaking with the church’s pastor, David Meunier, Crowell began organizing the rally and came equipped with signs, flags and Bibles for his congregation to hand out throughout the night.
“We come together rooted in faith, united in freedom and committed to our communities,” said Crowell. “Charlie Kirk was not shot for his opinions, and he was not shot because he spoke out. Charlie Kirk was shot because young people were listening by the millions.”
Gabe Corriveau, a 20-year-old senior at Bryant University, was among the younger faces in the crowd and traveled from North Smithfield, Rhode Island, to speak at the vigil. To Corriveau, Kirk was a role model in how he spoke to people he disagreed with and inspired the college student to participate in Bible studies.
“It wasn’t so much the fact that he was conservative, but rather him being a Christian,” said Corriveau. “He was somebody who not only embodied truth, but showed how to love people you disagree with and give them a platform.”
Shana Figueroa, a veteran who served 20 years in the military and resident of North Attleborough, showed up in protest with a sign that read “North Attleboro should not let racists feel comfortable.”
“I’m here because I’m sad that this is what’s happened to the country that I fought for for 20 years. It breaks my heart to see this,” said Figueroa. “It’s hard to stand here and have people yell at you, but because I was in the military, I feel like it’s my duty to stand out here and do the right thing.”
While the memorial and protests remained largely peaceful, Figueroa did interject at times during the speeches to make her voice heard on topics like racism, religion and equal rights. One attendee of the vigil turned towards Figueroa early on and said, “Why don’t you shut up before someone duct tapes your mouth shut?”
Abigail Addison, another North Attleborough resident in attendance, walked silently around Veterans Park while waving a rainbow flag in support of members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
“I wanted people to know that everyone in North Attleborough does not support what Charlie Kirk was espousing,” said Addison.
Adam Bailey, an administrator at Grace Baptist Christian Academy in Attleboro, came before the crowd to share the school’s mission and how Kirk exemplified those ideals. To Bailey, Kirk is the voice of this generation, and encouraged his fellow Christians to be bold in their faith and unafraid of backlash from what he called the “woke mob.”
“I was often told when I was in college that as a Christian, we cannot legislate morality — but I never agreed to such a compromise. If we don’t legislate morality, guess what, someone else will. Someone with — I hate to mention it — a rainbow flag is going to legislate morality,” said Bailey, referencing Addison and her flag.
The vigil, which ran for over an hour, wrapped up as the sun began to set, with attendees taking out their phones and shining their flashlights in remembrance of Kirk.
“It seems like the bullet that struck Charlie Kirk pierced the conscience of many in this nation, and hearts are open to hear the truth of the word of God, because that’s what he sought to proclaim,” said Meunier. “God has used this very tragic event to bring people to know Jesus Christ, and to have eternal life.”