1 week ago
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VISALIA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk spoke to a sold-out assemblage Tuesday nighttime successful Visalia, portion protesters gathered extracurricular the venue to dependable absorption to his appearance.
The event, hosted by Tulare-Kings Right to Life, marked the organization’s “Advancing the Mission” gathering astatine Visalia First Assembly Church. Organizers accidental the lawsuit is the nonprofit’s largest yearly fundraiser.
This twelvemonth was the archetypal clip the lawsuit had sold out.
“We person hosted this lawsuit for 40 years, and we conscionable wanted to marque definite radical could travel and perceive what TKRL is truly each about,” TKRL Executive Director Ann Marie Paden said.
Inside the church, hundreds of attendees filled the seats, waiting for Kirk to instrumentality the signifier arsenic the keynote speaker.
But outside, a radical of protesters rallied with chants and signs, sharing their concerns astir Kirk’s beingness successful the city.
“I americium decidedly very, very, precise nervous, but I’m besides precise excited to unfastened up these conversations and spot the magnitude of alteration we bring with conscionable 1 protest,” said Yocelyn, a Visalia activist.
Yocelyn told YourCentralValley.com successful the weeks starring up to the lawsuit that she believed Kirk should not beryllium welcomed successful Visalia.
On Tuesday, she was joined by different protesters extracurricular the church, wherever they met with supporters and were monitored by Visalia Police.
“I don’t judge the Visalia PD being present is necessary, but I bash respect them being here,” Yocelyn said. “As agelong arsenic they stay neutral betwixt some sides and instrumentality attraction of some sides, that’s each I want.”
Inside, Kirk acknowledged the demonstrations, sharing his ain thoughts connected the protesters outside.
“You guys request amended protesters,” Kirk said. “Why don’t you spell retired and bash thing really bully for the satellite different than sitting connected a thoroughfare country with a sign?”
Despite the tension, the nighttime ended without a large incident, with some supporters and critics leaving with their feelings unchanged astir the evening’s keynote speaker.
