On Sunday, nearly 100,000 people gathered inside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, to honor Charlie Kirk. His widow, Erika, stood before the crowd and delivered a speech that left the massive venue in complete silence.
Her 31-year-old husband had been killed just 11 days earlier, shot while giving a speech at Utah Valley University. The service was filled with American flags, MAGA hats, and grieving supporters who came to mourn a man they saw as a leader of their movement.
Amid the sorrow, Erika’s message of forgiveness stood out. She shocked many when she forgave Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of killing her husband. “I forgive that man,” she said through tears. “That’s what Christ would do, and that’s what Charlie would do.”
She vowed to continue her husband’s work as the new leader of Turning Point USA. “The answer to hate is not hate,” she said. “The gospel tells us love is always the answer. We should love even those who hurt us.”