Paso Robles event remembers Charlie Kirk after Utah shooting
Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the attendance at the Saturday gathering for Charlie Kirk. Attendance was approximately 300 to 500 people, not 3,500, according to the City of Paso Robles.
Photos by Richard Mason.
Speakers included Paso Robles City Councilman Chris Bausch and DA Dan Dow
– About 300-500 supporters of the late Charlie Kirk gathered Saturday morning at the Downtown City Park in Paso Robles to reflect on the man and his assassination.
The 31-year-old Kirk, a Conservative Christian political activist, was shot to death by a sniper on Sept. 10. At the time of the shooting, Kirk was debating a man with an opposing view on an outdoor stage at Utah Valley University.
Nina Spinello, former local leader with Turning Point USA.
At the Paso Robles Park on Saturday, various Christian and Republican leaders talked about Kirk’s death and the continuing effort to engage young people in discussion about values and political issues.
Among those to speak were Paso Robles City Councilman Chris Bausch, San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow, Paso Robles High School graduate Hunter Brees, and a number of local pastors and Christian leaders.
Paso Robles City Council member Chris Bausch was among the local leaders to speak at the event.
After the local community leaders spoke, those in attendance were invited to share their feelings about Charlie Kirk and his Turning Point organization. The speakers universally condemned the use of violence and encouraged continued cordial debate.
Charlie Kirk was a hate monger. Paso Robles sure has a lot of spaced out people.
The fact you have no less than 11 colleges and universities listed on your Facebook profile we can now understand why you’d say such a thing. Your fake moral high ground is now gone. Get used to it.
A Black police officer, David Rose, was shot and killed defending a federal government building last month, and he didn’t get a presidential medal, a congressional moment of silence, or a lowered flag at the White House.
A white civilian, Charlie Kirk, is shot and killed on a college campus, and he gets all those things and a promise of presidential attendance at his funeral.
Don’t tell me that all lives matter in America. They don’t.
Most police officers don’t get the national attention they deserve when they make the ultimate sacrifice. But these 2 horrible tragedies were not the same. I think you know that.
Why are these two tragedies not equal? Was Kirk something special?
And how on God’s green earth is it OK for 3500+ people to commemorate him, and not a single soul gathered for all the way too many children that have been murdered in school shootings. Again, what made Kirk so special?
Open your eyes! Look at the reactions around the world. Obviously you know nothing about the man. Have you ever watched any of his college appearances?
My eyes are wide open. And it is very easy to see what is what.
I do not believe he should have been shot; BUT I also do not believe he was someone to look up to. And as sad as it is, this assassination is just one more example of how completely messed up this country is now. Similar situations have existed before and somehow this country made it through and carried on. We will again. It would really help if true leaders on all sides tone it down a bit and really lead – stop blaming the other side for everything that is going ‘wrong’.
It’s more about what Charlie represented- the courage to stand up for what he believed in a peaceful, respectful way even against belligerent and loud individuals who can normally intimidate weaker-minded people into remaining silent. That’s the part of Charlie that is resonating with the nation.
Many experts give him credit for bringing in the youth voteand electing Trump. he has had a world wide impact as evidenced by millions turning out in London, Korea, here in the U.S. Perhaps you can watch a few of his college appearances and get a truer picture of who he was. Ignorance can lead to misinterpretations.
So sad that you have to mention black or white. We are living in 2025. Blacks have the same rights freedom and opporitunity as whites. Also its sad you have to say, “Don’t tell me that all lives matter in America. They don’t.” Its obviously you have not listen to Charlie Kirk.He would of shine the light and wisdom to you back with facts and where the facts came from.
To Alan Kirk and others who think like Alan Kirk. Charlie Kirk was NOT a hate Monger. In fact he is the opposite. He spreaded nothing but love, faith an wisdom to the youth and everyone who listen to him. Some people can not except the truth and wisdom coming from a higher power because they have so much hate in their heart. You can NOW know how much he was LOVED throughout the world. No Alan, there is not a lot of spaced out people in Paso Robles. Obvisously you are hanging out with the wrong people. Your are either expressing love or hate. Good or evil.
Charlie Kirk was a hate monger. Paso Robles sure has a lot of spaced out people.
The fact you have no less than 11 colleges and universities listed on your Facebook profile we can now understand why you’d say such a thing. Your fake moral high ground is now gone. Get used to it.
A Black police officer, David Rose, was shot and killed defending a federal government building last month, and he didn’t get a presidential medal, a congressional moment of silence, or a lowered flag at the White House.
A white civilian, Charlie Kirk, is shot and killed on a college campus, and he gets all those things and a promise of presidential attendance at his funeral.
Don’t tell me that all lives matter in America. They don’t.
Most police officers don’t get the national attention they deserve when they make the ultimate sacrifice. But these 2 horrible tragedies were not the same. I think you know that.
Why are these two tragedies not equal? Was Kirk something special?
And how on God’s green earth is it OK for 3500+ people to commemorate him, and not a single soul gathered for all the way too many children that have been murdered in school shootings. Again, what made Kirk so special?
Open your eyes! Look at the reactions around the world. Obviously you know nothing about the man. Have you ever watched any of his college appearances?
My eyes are wide open. And it is very easy to see what is what.
I do not believe he should have been shot; BUT I also do not believe he was someone to look up to. And as sad as it is, this assassination is just one more example of how completely messed up this country is now. Similar situations have existed before and somehow this country made it through and carried on. We will again. It would really help if true leaders on all sides tone it down a bit and really lead – stop blaming the other side for everything that is going ‘wrong’.
It’s more about what Charlie represented- the courage to stand up for what he believed in a peaceful, respectful way even against belligerent and loud individuals who can normally intimidate weaker-minded people into remaining silent. That’s the part of Charlie that is resonating with the nation.
Many experts give him credit for bringing in the youth voteand electing Trump. he has had a world wide impact as evidenced by millions turning out in London, Korea, here in the U.S. Perhaps you can watch a few of his college appearances and get a truer picture of who he was. Ignorance can lead to misinterpretations.
So sad that you have to mention black or white. We are living in 2025. Blacks have the same rights freedom and opporitunity as whites. Also its sad you have to say, “Don’t tell me that all lives matter in America. They don’t.” Its obviously you have not listen to Charlie Kirk.He would of shine the light and wisdom to you back with facts and where the facts came from.
To Alan Kirk and others who think like Alan Kirk. Charlie Kirk was NOT a hate Monger. In fact he is the opposite. He spreaded nothing but love, faith an wisdom to the youth and everyone who listen to him. Some people can not except the truth and wisdom coming from a higher power because they have so much hate in their heart. You can NOW know how much he was LOVED throughout the world. No Alan, there is not a lot of spaced out people in Paso Robles. Obvisously you are hanging out with the wrong people. Your are either expressing love or hate. Good or evil.