California conservatives mourn Kirk

"In San Francisco's Noe Valley Park, some 80 people attended a Saturday afternoon memorial hosted by the county Republican Party. The San Francisco Standard reported the event included prayers, eulogies and placards promoting dialogue. At at one point, police officers watched from a distance. In Ventura County, the local Republican committee is planning a "Light in the Darkness" vigil on Monday night in Moorpark. The event, scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. is at Walnut Grove at Tierra Rejada Farms."

"Kirk, founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point, was shot and killed Wednesday while giving an address at a Utah university. The 31-year-old was popular among conservative groups on college campuses, but controversial for his often deliberately provocative attacks against diversity programs, ethnic and sexual groups. He had called the Civil Rights Act a mistake and recently tweeted that "Islam is not compatible with western civilization.""

"Despite the environment online, politicians and advocacy groups from across the political spectrum denounced the killing. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he "admired [Kirk's] passion and commitment to debate" and called his murder "sick and reprehensible." A leading Muslim American civil rights organization said "the values that led us to oppose many of Mr. Kirk's stances are the same values that lead us to condemn his murder and reaffirm that political violence is not the answer to even the most hateful rhetori"

Community vigils in California memorialized Charlie Kirk, with about 80 people attending a Noe Valley Park memorial hosted by the county Republican Party. The San Francisco event included prayers, eulogies and placards promoting dialogue, with police watching from a distance. Ventura County Republicans planned a "Light in the Darkness" vigil in Moorpark at Walnut Grove at Tierra Rejada Farms. Kirk, 31 and founder of Turning Point, was shot and killed while speaking at a Utah university. He was popular among conservative campus groups and controversial for provocative attacks on diversity programs and statements opposing the Civil Rights Act and Islam. Politicians and advocacy groups across the spectrum publicly denounced the killing.

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