October 14, 2025, would have marked the 32 birthday of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a prominent speaker for young people around America, and one who amassed millions of online followers. However, Kirk was assassinated on September 20, 2025 while addressing an audience on the campus of Utah Valley University.
On his birthday, a group of students chose to celebrate the legacy of Kirk on a public sidewalk next to Whatcom Community College (WCC). Jonah Anderson joined his peers to celebrate who Kirk was, and to start conversations with those who came by.
Anderson described the key values of this demonstration as, “having conversation and having civil debate where violence isn’t the key and we aren’t trying to prove a point over one another.”
Kirk’s assassination ignited the Republican base into discussion centering political violence. According to the BBC and NPR, some critics of Kirk lost their jobs for their critique, and at least six people have had their visas cancelled for comments made about his murder.
Anderson still thinks that conversation is possible: “I think people can have really harsh discussions, and you know, when people stop talking, violence happens. That’s the most important thing I learned from Charlie, and that’s what we’re trying to promote out here, is just having conversations.”
Raquel (Rocky) Vernola, WCC Director for Safety and Security, emphasizes that WCC welcomes and supports expressive activities on campus. Vernola explained that the campus has designated areas known as Expressive Activity Zones, which allow for free speech while maintaining college operations.
Describing the process by which people register their activities, Vernola said, “Individuals or groups wishing to engage in expressive speech must complete an application, review the rules and behavior expectations, and participate in a short safety briefing before being approved for their activity based on time and space availability.”
Vernola stated that the Charlie Kirk demonstrators did not contact Safety and Security prior, but permission was not required since their activity took place on the public sidewalks, which are not under college jurisdiction.
“Our priority is to ensure the safety of both the demonstrators and those with differing viewpoints,” said Vernola. “The right to public expression is upheld for everyone, provided that it remains peaceful and free of violence.”
Gwyneth Schwandt, a student at WCC, demonstrated alongside Anderson and a peer, wearing a MAGA hat. She reflected on the stereotypes that she claimed both political parties can embody, and specifically the worry Republicans like her carry in Whatcom County.
“I don’t want to get my grade deducted because I’m wearing a MAGA hat,” Schwandt said. “I also still want to create good friendships, like with my classmates, and I don’t want to be disregarded just because of my political view[s].”
Schwandt shared the goal of sparking conversation, and gave further insight into how their demonstration has been going.
“We’ve been getting a lot of thumbs up, and honks, which has been great,” said Schwandt. “A few people that, you know, weren’t so enthusiastic about it, and, you know, a few thumbs down, a few boo’s, but, I mean, they’re entitled to that freedom of speech. We also appreciate seeing their opinions and hearing from them if they want to talk to us.”
Anderson claimed to also have success getting people talking, some with those who disagreed with Kirk, and others who supported his viewpoints. He described those discussions as centering around the Second Amendment, gun rights, and also general curiosities.
Anderson said “a guy came up, actually. He had no idea who Charlie Kirk was. And so I thought it would be, you know, a good opportunity to tell him about Charlie Kirk.”
Charlie Kirk was a controversial figure, as was his co-founded student organization, Turning Point USA. According to the BBC, his mobilization movements on college campuses landed him in hot water. Among other topics, Kirk spoke on issues ranging from COVID-19, Islam, and abortion – and his viewpoint and debate style were critiqued by many media sources and groups, to which Kirk would mainly cite his evangelical Christian faith as a response.
Kirk’s message resonates with these WCC students, and likely with others. Their key hope for nonviolent conversation during their demonstration acts as a potential bridge for different parties to find mutual ground and recognize each other’s humanity. How WCC will react to dialogue like these remains to be seen as unprecedented political tension continues in America.
