A memorial event was held Tuesday night in Dieppe Gardens Park along Windsor's riverfront to remember Charlie Kirk, the U.S. political commentator and activist who was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University last month.
Kirk, 31, was the founder of Turning Point USA, a conservative youth organization, and became a prominent figure in American right-wing politics through media appearances, his podcast, and college campus organizing.
The vigil, organized by Turning Point Windsor, featured speakers, singers, and prayer service.
Bud Bardsley said it was important for him to come out and show support of Kirk's activism.
"We should have the choice of speaking our mind on what we believe, and doing it in a proper way," Bardsley said.
Mark Deslippe said he believed Kirk was the voice of the people and that more people should speak out like he did.
"For so long, especially in Canada, we sat back and we've let people take over all of our rights to the point where we don't have rights anymore. The government has more rights over our children than parents do, and so many things we've lost because we haven't spoken out," Deslippe said.
Over the course of his career, Kirk faced repeated criticism for giving a platform to speakers with far-right views. Kirk himself often expressed opposition to abortion, gun control, DEI programs, and LGBTQ rights.
Tuesday night's vigil saw a heavy police presence on hand with a few counter-protesters visible throughout the vigil.
Margaret Stanley was one of those protesters who held a sign that read 'say no to hate, say no to Kirk'.
"You read the sound bites, he's anti-women, anti-immigrant, anti-black, he's just an angry hateful man, it seemed like, and it's sad that he got killed. I feel bad about that too but I don't think we should celebrate his death," Stanley said.
Another protester who did not want to be identified said she believed the Turning Point organization had no place in Windsor or Canada.
"I just wanted Windsorites to be represented in saying we don't like this, I don't like it personally, and again, as I firmly believe, it's a hate group, it's nothing to do with Christianity," she said.
The memorial was held on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, but organizers said that was because of a Charlie Kirk memorial happening at Hart Plaza in Detroit at the same time. However, it was unclear if the Detroit memorial went ahead.
A spokesperson for Windsor police said an estimated 100 to 150 people attended the event.
Police also said one arrest was made at the event when a limo driver failed to move his vehicle from the roadway and then refused to identify himself.