CULTURE

WATCH: Pastor Russell Johnson delivers inspiring address at Seattle vigil for Charlie Kirk

Sep 11, 2025, 11:38 AM | Updated: 11:54 am

Between 300 and 400 people gathered in Seattle at Westlake Park for a vigil mourning the death and celebrating the life of conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. He was murdered during a free speech event at a Utah Valley College on Wednesday.

The vigil was organized by Pursuit NW and Pastor Russell Johnson and featured speakers Seattle Red host Jason Rantz, Seattle council candidate Rachel Savage, Washington GOP chairman Jim Walsh, and Ari Hoffman.

“He was a hero to me, he was a hero in our movement,” Johnson explained. “He ended up paying with his life for the high crime of daring to voice a different opinion than what might be popular in culture.”

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