At a memorial event on Sunday for Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old US right-wing activist who was recently killed, President Donald Trump and Kirk’s supporters remembered his life in a way that sounded almost religious.
Trump described Kirk as a hero. “He’s a martyr now for American freedom,” he said, referring to Kirk, who was shot and killed on September 10 at a university in Utah.
Trump was the last speaker at the event, which took place in a large stadium in Arizona. Nearly 65,000 people attended, traveling from many different states to honor Kirk and pay their respects.
Some attendees compared Kirk’s death to that of a religious martyr. Monica Mirelez, a 44-year-old nurse who drove more than 12 hours from Texas to attend, said, I look at him as a Christ martyr, definitely. Mirelez told reporters that she watched Kirk’s videos on Instagram every day. She said he showed people how to be brave and speak up for their beliefs.It’s so sad that he was silenced like this, Mirelez added. “It feels like losing a brother.”
The crowd was full of patriotic energy. People wore red, white, and blue, and cheered loudly for Trump and the other speakers, chanting “USA! USA! USA!” Between speeches, Christian rock songs were played, and many people sang along, adding to the religious tone of the event.
Mirelez explained that she supported Kirk not only politically but also as a fellow Christian. She said that his views were strongly influenced by the Bible and that he stood up for what he believed were “Biblical principles.” She mentioned that his opposition to LGBTQ issues brought him criticism, but she believed people misunderstood him.
A younger attendee, 15-year-old Nick Chisholm, shared that he was shocked by some of his classmates’ reactions to Kirk’s death. They laughed. They said he deserved it, he said. “Whatever he said, he didn’t deserve to be killed just for his opinions and beliefs.”
Many speakers and attendees expressed unity after Kirk’s death. Stephen Miller, a top advisor to Trump, told the audience, You have no idea the dragon you have awakened. You have no idea how determined we will be to save this civilization, to save the West.
Welsley Inglis, a 61-year-old mechanical engineer from California, said he thought the shooter was influenced by the Democratic Party. He criticized Democrats for promoting ideas about gender that he disagreed with. Inglis also appreciated that Kirk encouraged young people to connect with the church. When I was a child, churches were full. By the time I became an adult, many churches were empty, he said.
Inglis also commented on the Trump administration’s efforts to investigate left-wing activists accused of funding political violence. He said the government would need proof to act, but he personally believed evidence already exists.
Other attendees took a different approach. Jeremy Schlotman, a 21-year-old Catholic who recently joined Kirk’s group, Turning Point USA, emphasized forgiveness. He agreed with Kirk’s widow, Erika, who spoke about forgiving the alleged shooter. I think that’s the best response to what the shooter did,” Schlotman said.
Many people at the event also expressed a sense of determination and solidarity. Kill one, and a thousand more will rise, Schlotman said. That’s what’s happening. The shooter just created a generation of new Charlies. We’re all Charlie Kirk now.
