Students at a local university held a vigil for Charlie Kirk tonight.

[MIButterfly]

The university said they were not affiliated with the event. It was organized by the school's College Republicans branch and Turning Point, USA. The media reports that hundreds of students attended.

In my day (OK, Boomer!), the students on the college campuses protested against the war and advocated peace, love and understanding. Now they gather for the likes of Charlie Kirk.

Lord have mercy. How far we have fallen in just 50 short years.

[dgauss]

1. Future historians will write about how far, and how it happened.

It will be interesting in retrospect, like all history is. Not so much for the people that live through it though.

But you mentioned "peace, love and understanding" so I can't help but add this wise little musical question.

&pp=ygUccGVhY2UgbG92ZSBhbmQgdW5kZXJzdGFuZGluZw%3D%3D

[Prairie Gates]

6. The time of peace protests will be viewed, as Pynchon described it, as a

"brief parenthesis of light" in an otherwise uninterrupted history of viciousness. What we are seeing now isn't a change, except when viewed through the lens of that brief moment. It is the relentless continuity of American history.

[Oeditpus Rex]

2. What happened to the College Democrats

and, in high schools, the Young Democrats? I haven't heard a word about either in years.

[JI7]

3. There have always been college Republicans

they would do things like hold "affirmative action" bake sales where they would charge different prices to different groups as a way to mock affirmative action.

[Kaleva]

4. About 70 attended a vigil at a university not too far from me

“Both Moser and Reister say their prayers are with Kirk’s family. Turning Point USA also held a vigil Wednesday night in Marquette. More than 70 people attended.“

https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2025/09/11/nmu-student-political-groups-share-reaction-charlie-kirk-shooting/

[Elessar Zappa]

7. There's plenty of students that protest against Trump.

Most of these university “vigils” are attracting, at most, a few hundred people. There were people on colleges celebrating MLK’s death 57 years ago too.