'The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the gospel is love – and always love.'
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Texas Insider Report) — At Sunday’s memorial service in Glendale, Arizona – by all estimates attended by well over 100,000 people – Erika Kirk spoke movingly about her husband Charlie's mission to reach young men who felt adrift – and in heart-wrenching memorial speech, said she forgave the man accused of taking his life.
In a moving, powerful personal moment, Erika Kirk made a connection between husband Charlie’s mission, and his death.“My husband Charlie, he wanted to save young men – just like the one who took his life. That young man. That young man,” she told the capacity crowd gathered inside the Phoenix Cardinals' State Farm Stadium, as well as some 15,000 who gathered in an adjacent overflow stadium.
“Charlie passionately wanted to reach and save the lost boys of the West. The young men who feel like they have no direction, no purpose, no faith, and no reason to live.
“The men wasting their lives on distractions and the men consumed with resentment, anger, and hate. Charlie wanted to help them. He wanted them to have a home with Turning Point USA.”
“Charlie passionately wanted to reach and save the lost boys of the West. The young men who feel like they have no direction, no purpose, no faith, and no reason to live.
“The men wasting their lives on distractions and the men consumed with resentment, anger, and hate. Charlie wanted to help them. He wanted them to have a home with Turning Point USA.”
She said her husband’s campus visits were driven by a desire to give young men hope.
“Charlie wanted to help them, and when he went onto campus, he was looking to show them a better path and a better life that was right there for the taking. He wanted to show them that,” Kirk said, fighting back tears during the entirety of her appoximately 25-minute tribute.
“The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the gospel is love – and always love. Love for our enemies, and love for those who persecute us.
“I will not let hate take root in my heart,” she said, emphasizing that the only way forward for both her family and the movement Charlie built is through faith, prayer, and the grace of God.
Her words were met with both tears and standing ovations.
Invoking the message of Jesus Christ, whose name was mentioned by virtually every speaker during the event memorializing Charkie Kirk's death, she said,
“I will not let hate take root in my heart,” she said, emphasizing that the only way forward for both her family and the movement Charlie built is through faith, prayer, and the grace of God.
Her words were met with both tears and standing ovations.
Invoking the message of Jesus Christ, whose name was mentioned by virtually every speaker during the event memorializing Charkie Kirk's death, she said,“On the cross, our Savior said, 'Father, forgive them, for they not know what they do.'
"That man, that young man, I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did – and is what Charlie would do.”
"That man, that young man, I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did – and is what Charlie would do.”
Tyler Robinson, 22, was indicted last week for the premeditated murder of Kirk by Utah County prosecutor Jeffrey Gray.
Blending the strength of her spiritual leadership with political responsibility, the tribute elevates Erika from grieving widow to national figure just days after being named to replace her husband as CEO of Turning Point USA.
Charlie Kirk was killed by a single bullet during a live debate event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, September 10th, 2025.
