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Charlie Kirk Memorial Crowd Tops 200,000, Doubling Estimates

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2 months ago

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More than 200,000 people are believed to have traveled to Phoenix, Arizona for Sunday’s memorial service in honor of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated by a far-left extremist on September 10.

Americans from all corners of the country have poured into the Phoenix area for the service, with lines stretching a mile long as early as 2 a.m. local time, a full eight hours before doors were set to open. The service is being held at State Farm Stadium, which has the capacity to host 63,400 people and can accommodate up to 73,000 for “mega-events,” according to its website. Due to the massive influx of people seeking to attend, the nearby Desert Diamond Arena has been designated as an overflow venue. Additional overflow crowds are expected to be spread out in nearby parking lots and other designated areas.

Officials had anticipated at least 100,000 people, though Glendale Police spokesperson Moroni Mendez told USAToday that their estimates have doubled to at least 200,000.

President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and a number of additional senior cabinet officials are in attendance for the service. A number of them, including the president and vice president, are among the listed speakers.

Vice President Vance, a personal friend of Kirk’s, who has credited him with jumpstarting his political career, personally escorted Kirk’s casket back to Phoenix aboard Air Force Two a day after he was killed. Vance paid tribute to his late friend in a touching social media post ahead of the event.

“Last week, we brought my dear friend Charlie Kirk home one last time,” the vice president posted on X alongside a video of a military honor guard loading Kirk’s casket aboard Air Force Two.

“Today, we return to Arizona to remember Charlie and honor his sacrifice. May he eternally rest in peace, and may God watch over Erika and their beautiful children.”

Prior to the official start of the service, the capacity crowd joined in a number of hymns and affirmations of Kirk’s devout Christian faith. At one point, the 70,000-strong crowd simultaneously rose to their feet, raised their hands, and chanted “Hallelujah.”

“Charlie Kirk’s martyrdom is as not the end. It was the start of a revival!!” said conservative commentator Graham Allen. “IT IS ALL ABOUT JESUS!!”

Just months before his murder, Kirk was asked “The Iced Coffee Hour” podcast host Jack Selby asked Kirk how he would want to best be remembered if a tragedy were to occur.

“If I die?” Kirk responded, before Selby clarified. “Everything just goes away,” Selby said. “If you could be associated with one thing, how would you want to be remembered?”

“I want to be remembered for courage for my faith,” Kirk said. “That would be the most important thing; most important thing is my faith.”

Charlie’s widow, Erika Kirk, is also among the list of speakers at the event. She was recently named as the next leader of her husband’s Turning Point USA organization after captivating the nation in a powerful address two days after the assassination.

“If you thought my husband’s mission was powerful before, you have no idea. You have no idea what you have just released across this entire nation, across the world,” Kirk said in the September 12 address.

Kirk is survived by Erika, as well as his two young children.

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