Photos: Charlie Kirk vigil draws more than 1,000 people to the Boston Commons

By Arthur Mansavage and Sam Shipman / 14 hours ago

Over 1,000 people gathered at the Robert Gould Shaw & 54th Regiment Memorial in the Boston Commons outside the Massachusetts State House Thursday evening for a candlelight vigil honoring conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kirk was assassinated last week at Utah Valley University. A few dozen counter-protesters were present throughout the event, but Boston police kept the peace between the two groups despite making two arrests.

Hundreds of people holding candles at the Kirk vigil Thursday night. (Sam Shipman/ Beacon Staff)

A person holding a candle at the Charlie Kirk vigil Thursday evening in the Boston Commons. (Arthur Mansavage/Beacon Staff)

A person holds up a sign that reads “RIP Charlie Kirk, Thank you” on Thursday evening. (Arthur Mansavage/Beacon Staff)

Fans of Charlie Kirk place candles at a memorial on the footsteps of the Massachusetts State House. (Arthur Mansavage/Beacon Staff)

A person holding a candle with writing on it that says “Rest in peace Charlie Kirk and Iryna Zarutska” during the vigil Thursday evening. (Sam Shipman/ Beacon Staff)

Two people with candles leaning over a railing at the Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment Memorial outside the Massachusetts State House Thursday evening. (Arthur Mansavage/Beacon Staff)

Brian Foley who organized the event through Facebook speaks to the crowd of over 1,000 Thursday night. (Sam Shipman/ Beacon Staff)

Hundreds of fans of Charlie Kirk gather around speakers in the Boston Commons. (Arthur Mansavage/Beacon Staff)

A person suspected of being a counter-protester speaks with police inside of the cordoned-off area during the Charlie Kirk vigil. (Arthur Mansavage/Beacon Staff)

A sign reading “Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant,” memorializes Charlie Kirk at a Vigil in Boston on Thursday (Sam Shipman/ Beacon Staff)

A sign on the steps of the Massachusetts State House reads “God Family Country” during the Charlie Kirk vigil Thursday evening. (Arthur Mansavage/Beacon Staff)

Chris Grey, 41, a construction worker from Quincy Massachusetts places a candle on the steps of the State House. (Arthur Mansavage/Beacon Staff)

A person streaming the vigil event to TikTok. (Arthur Mansavage/Beacon Staff)

A woman holds a sign in support of free speech during a Charlie Kirk vigil at the Statehouse steps (Sam Shipman/ Beacon Staff)

A counterprotestor stands behind the cordoned-off area of the Charlie Kirk vigil in the Boston Commons on Thursday night. (Arthur Mansavage/Beacon Staff)

About the Contributors

Arthur Mansavage, Photo Editor, Website Editor & Chief Photographer

Arthur Mansavage (he/him) is a senior Journalism student from Carmel, Indiana. He is the Photo Editor, Website Editor, and Newsletter Editor at The Berkeley Beacon. He oversees all photo content, manages reader experience & engagement, and manages the newsletters.

Sam Shipman, Living Arts Editor

Sam Shipman (He/Him) is a junior journalism student from from Natick, Mass, who works as a hard/breaking news and living arts journalist. Sam is currently an assignment desk intern at WHDH, the president of the Society of Professional Journalists Emerson Chapter, the website manager of WERS 88.9FM’s “You Are Here” News Team, the J Channel Manager of WEBN TV, and a staff writer at WECB’s “Milk Crate” Music Blog. When he’s not doing journalism, Sam can be found listening to music, spending time with friends, or doing freelance video work.