Charlie Kirk Memorial
By Ella Willard
This Sunday, September 21st, 2025 in Glendale, AZ a memorial was held for the assassination of Charlie Kirk. This was located at the State Farm Stadium where around 200,000 people attended. The event’s doors opened at 8am and the memorial began at 11am. Prior to the funeral, contemporary Christian music was played. The singers who performed were Chris Tomlin, Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham, Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes and many more. There were also speakers such as President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, Erika Kirk, and other religious and political figures. The service focused on the mission of Turning Point, the conservative organization founded by Charlie Kirk.
The dress code for the event was to wear red, white, and blue rather than black, with the purpose of patriotism. Erika Kirk’s message of forgiveness was heavily reported following the event. Erika proposed a message forgiving the man who is accused of killing her husband as she believed that’s what Charlie would’ve wanted. She said, “I forgive him because it was what Christ did. And what Charlie would do.” Many people were touched by her empathy and strength in choosing to forgive and love instead of hate. The overall message of this event was to promote the Christian faith, forgiveness, patriotism and political resolve. This event encouraged unity in the face of loss, and created an atmosphere of both grieving and mobilizing.
Reyes, Ronny. “The 5 Most Emotional Moments of the Charlie Kirk Memorial: From Widow’s Tearful Message to Trump’s Impassioned Speech.” New York Post, 22 Sept. 2025, nypost.com/2025/09/22/us-news/the-five-most-emotional-moments-of-the-charlie-kirk-memorial-from-widows-tearful-message-to-trumps-impassioned-speech. Accessed 30 Sept. 2025.
