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FIRST ON FOX: A tribute honoring Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist, was disturbed by students at a North Carolina university. Over the past few days, these students have verbally assaulted others who gathered at the site, igniting calls for stronger action from university officials.
During a candlelight vigil held on Monday night at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, a video obtained by Fox News Digital captured a female student verbally confronting Kirk’s supporters while mocking the tribute. She approached a large painted rock dedicated to Kirk, simulating an act of flattening onto it.
“Can somebody get a lighter?” the student was heard saying. A friend nearby added, “Freedom of speech.”
When a supporter of Kirk remarked, “Jesus loves you,” the female student turned and pointed to her sweatshirt, which seemed to contain satanic symbols.
Another video emerged the following day, showing a student pouring paint over the tribute that Kirk’s supporters had painted on the rock.
Reagan Faulkner, president of the College Republicans chapter at UNCW, informed Fox News Digital about the vigil. She said the gathering around the rock, frequently used by students to promote various causes, was expected to remain untouched for 24 hours as a courtesy.
Faulkner noted that they anticipated roughly 250 attendees; however, the actual turnout reached between 750 and 1,000 people.
“It was beautiful,” Faulkner expressed. “We honored Charlie in a profound way.”
Before the courtesy period was over, Faulkner claimed students opposing Kirk started making threats to repaint the mural at around 6 a.m. on Tuesday. She stated that the rock was first vandalized around 11 a.m. that day.
“We advised him to wait until 5,” Faulkner explained. “He responded, ‘That’s just a courtesy. I don’t have to do anything for you fascists.’ He insulted one of our military members and called us Nazis. He and a friend then poured paint on both our members and the rock.”
Faulkner shared that her friends experienced harassment, including being pushed and having paint dumped on them, while the police informed them that the actions did not warrant an arrest.
On Tuesday morning, the university acknowledged the situation involving the spirit rock. A statement from the school indicated that university police observed interactions between students wanting to repaint the rock and those wishing to preserve it. What began as a conversation soon became confrontational, culminating in paint being poured onto the rock.
“Some students attempted to prevent this act, and during the conflict, some were splattered with paint. No arrests were made during this incident,” the statement continued. “We encourage students who feel threatened to file a police report if necessary.”
The university stressed its commitment to fostering a respectful and open community in line with freedom of expression laws and policies.
Faulkner, also serving as the secretary for UNCW’s Turning Point USA chapter, mentioned that due to escalating tensions and safety concerns, Kirk’s supporters chose not to defend the mural any longer.
“We still think it’s essential to stand up, but instead of defacing it, we’re opting for a different response,” Faulkner explained. “We’re bringing worship music, signs proclaiming ‘I Am Charlie Kirk,’ and engaging in prayer and song. Our aim is to embody the principles Charlie stood for — promoting the gospel, respecting free speech, and remaining visible in our beliefs.”
“None of us retaliated. I believe God granted us courage and inner calm. Our goal is dialogue, not violence. We aspire to continue Charlie’s mission, yet it seems the opposing side remains unwilling to engage. While they claim to oppose division and violence, their actions paint another picture. Our takeaway is that we desire openness, but they refuse to converse.”
Faulkner also expressed dissatisfaction with the university’s handling of the incident, emphasizing that university administrators need to take more effective protective measures.
“I am aware that the students caught in the middle of this situation have the legal right to pursue charges, yet it was unjust for the university police department to indicate otherwise,” Faulkner stated. “I reached out to the administration after Charlie’s passing, highlighting various concerns from our members regarding their safety on campus. I was told they were perfectly safe, yet this incident contradicts that reassurance. We were informed by police that our decision to stand near the rock contributed to the situation, which I find shameful.”
Another student, Brendan Chafin, echoed Faulkner’s sentiments, stating that the university must address these issues more seriously. Chafin, a member of TPUSA and the college Republicans, expressed that many students are upset while also feeling compassion for those expressing dissent.
“We hope the university will acknowledge the challenges faced by Christian conservative students and take prompt action against those who vandalized the memorial and assaulted conservative supporters,” Chafin said. “It is crucial to demonstrate that animosity and violence directed toward Christian conservatives is unacceptable on campus and in society at large.”
In recent days, conservatives nationwide have held vigils in memory of Kirk, celebrating his life and impact on public discourse, particularly across various college campuses.
Similarly, conservative influencers on social media have highlighted instances of students, faculty, and politicians disparaging Kirk, some even suggesting his assassination was warranted, leading to multiple firings.
