Flagler Sheriff urges American unity at Flagler's Charlie Kirk vigil

'It is time for America to unify and denounce violence now,' Sheriff Rick Staly said. 'Our country is known as the United States of America: It's time we start acting united.'

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Hundreds of people in Flagler County stood in memorial for Charlie Kirk on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at the base of Flagler County courthouse steps.

Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly urged everyone to recommit to treating each other with respect and kindness.

"It is time for America to unify and denounce violence now," Staly said. "Our country is known as the United States of America: It's time we start acting united."

Organized by the Flagler GOP group, officials from across the county, including Sen. Tom Leek, Staly, Flagler County Commissioner Leann Pennington, and three Palm Coast City Council members, spoke in honor of Kirk. Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was killed at an event on a Utah college campus on Sept. 10.

"Evil has struck America," Staly said to the crowd, "and unfortunately, evil still exists in our country today. But even in times of darkness, a light of compassion, community and faith can bring us hope."

People attended carrying flags and some with signs calling for "Justice for Charlie Kirk." Others, like Jeana Higgins and Amie Eastmoore wore white T-shirts reading "FREEDOM," the same shirt Kirk was wearing when he was killed. Higgins and Eastmoore said Kirk had a huge impact.

"He was a man of God," Higgins said. "And he gave freedom of speech to everyone who wanted to come out and talk to him."

Attendee Dylann Budd said she has followed Kirk on social media for the last three years. Budd said Kirk drew her more to God and taught her to stand up for their beliefs. Losing Kirk felt like losing one of their own, she said.

"We all walked a journey with him, supporting him this whole time, because he made us grow so much in our faith and our passion towards politics," she said.

Flagler GOP Chair Perry Mitrano said the vigil was a "nonpolitical event." All were welcome, he said, to remember Charlie Kirk.

"Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated because he sought to inspire positive values in a young society that was losing its way," Mitrano said.

Staly said Kirk believed in handling ideologial differences through conversation. This, Staly said, echoes the America's founding principles, laid down by its Founding Fathers. They understood a healthy democracy requires vigorous debate and "mutual respect, responsibility, tolerance and inclusion."

"We are a nation of many backgrounds, beliefs and perspectives, that diversity is not a weakness," Staly said. "It is our strength. It is what allows us to innovate, to grow and to stand united as Americans, even when we disagree." 

Staly said disagreement was a cornerstone of American freedom. Everyone should be willing to seek and understand other viewpoints, he said, regardless of religious or political opinions. 

"It's okay to disagree, but no matter our differences and opinions, they should never escalate into hatred or violence," he said. "This is not who we as Americans are."

Staly urged people to not participate in demeaning or hate speech in any form.

"Let us pray that God heals America," Staly said. "Heals our wounds, and grief and the deep divide in our country."

 

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