Coldplay frontman Chris Martin encouraged his fans to “send love” to conservative political commentator Charlie Kirk’s family following Kirk’s shooting death on Wednesday, September 10.
“Let’s raise our hands and send love, anywhere you want to send it in the world,” Martin, 48, told fans during a concert at London’s Wembley Stadium on Friday, September 12. “There are so many places that might need it today, so here it comes from London.”
Viral footage showed Martin assuring the audience, “You can send this to your brother or your sister, or you can send it to the families of people who’ve been going through terrible stuff. You can send it to Charlie Kirk’s family. You can send it to anybody’s family.”
The Coldplay musician argued that it was just as important to send love to “people you disagree with” as it was to share those sentiments with the like-minded.
“Send [those you disagree with] love anyway,” he urged. “Send it to peaceful people in the Middle East, Ukraine and Russia, Azerbaijan and Sudan, Somalia, anywhere you think might need love from London.”
Tributes have come in from the sports and entertainment worlds since Kirk was shot during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Wednesday. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he later died at age 31.
Following a two-day long search, the FBI announced on Friday that it had apprehended 22-year-old shooting suspect Tyler Robinson. According to CNN, Robinson dropped out of Utah State University despite having a scholarship and had no registered political affiliation.
The Turning Point USA founder’s death led to memorial messages from stars and public figures across the political divide, including President Donald Trump, Chris Pratt, Danica Patrick, Maria Shriver and Josh Duhamel. As part of her tribute, Savannah Chrisley revealed that she was supposed to join Kirk on his American Comeback Tour later this year.
“I am numb. I can’t believe I’m even writing these words,” she wrote. “Charlie Kirk changed my life…he brought me into the Turning Point family this past year, and I was supposed to be standing next to him at every college this October. Instead, I sit here with a broken heart, devastated beyond words.”
Former California first lady Shriver reacted to news of Kirk’s killing by writing via Instagram: “This is a violent act of hate that we must all denounce, all of us, regardless of party. This is reprehensible, horrendous violence that affects each and every one of us.”
Two days after the shooting, Utah Governor Spencer Cox delivered a similarly unifying call to action for young people during a press conference on Friday, according to NPR.
“Your generation has an opportunity to build a culture that is very different than what we are suffering through right now,” he told young viewers. “Not by pretending differences don’t matter, but by embracing our differences and having those hard conversations.”
Turning Point USA has announced that it will hold a memorial — called “Building a Legacy, Remembering Charlie Kirk” — at State Farm Stadium, which is the home of Arizona Cardinals, in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday, September 21. President Trump is expected to attend the memorial and members of the public can also reserve seats online on a first come, first serve basis.
“[Kirk’s] legacy will endure for generations,” Turning Point USA said in a statement announcing the event. “And now he hears the words of Matthew 25:23 from his Lord and Savior: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’”
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