Following Kirk memorial cancellation, Diamond plans prayer walk around LVC

Following a controversial public cancellation of a planned vigil for the assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk, state Rep. Russ Diamond (R-102) has announced plans to hold a prayer and remembrance walk around the Lebanon Valley College campus on Monday, Oct. 27.

The cancelled vigil, which had been planned for Oct. 13, was organized by the Lebanon County Young Republicans and the Lebanon Valley College Conservatives, a student group that had arranged use of the on-campus Miller Chapel.

The College Conservatives withdrew their request on Oct. 6 after finding themselves unable to pay a $8,000 to $10,000 security fee mandated by the college. Word of the cancellation wasn’t shared publicly until Oct. 7, coincidentally the same day a LebTown article was published on the event, leading to a series of updates throughout the day as LebTown spoke to event organizers and college officials about what had happened.

Read More: Lebanon County Young Republicans seek new venue after LVC Kirk vigil is canceled

Event organizers claimed the security fee was motivated by potential counter-protest and penalized the student group for the projected response rather than the event itself. The college said that it neither directed nor pressured the decision by the College Conservatives to withdraw the event request and that the security requirements were unrelated to the counterprotest plans that were anonymously posted on social media.

Kirk, 31, was fatally shot by a sniper on Sept. 10 while speaking at a college rally in Orem, Utah. Authorities there have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder and related offenses. Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty.

In a social media post, Diamond called the cancellation “hasty and questionable” and said that given the cancellation he will “instead be walking in prayer and remembrance along an appropriate path on public sidewalks through Annville” beginning at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27.

Diamond outlined a path using public street sidewalks around the core of the college campus and said that he will be walking with a flashlight and may walk the route more than once.

In his post, Diamond invited the public to join them. “Dress for the weather,” he wrote. “Bring your own flashlight.”

Responding to a LebTown request for comment, LVC vice president of marketing and communications Molly O’Brien-Foelsch said the college learned of Diamond’s plans via social media.

“Free expression is allowed on public property,” said O’Brien-Foelsch.