Amid a sea of mourners, Tara Hall navigated the crowded parking lot at State Farm Stadium, having traveled from South Carolina to Arizona for a memorial service dedicated to Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist whose unexpected death on September 10 at a Utah college event shook many. Her journey was fraught with delays, yet her determination to honor Kirk was unwavering.
Arriving at her hotel in the early hours, Hall managed just a brief rest before making her way to the stadium by 3:30 a.m., joining a multitude of others who sought to pay their respects. Despite being unable to enter, Hall found solace among fellow supporters, who shared in prayer and camaraderie.
“I’ve already got like 10 numbers, I’ve gotten 10 hugs,” Hall remarked. “We’re all feeling the same thing. We’re all feeling a quickening of faith, just being lifted up, and we’ve got to be bold for our faith.”
Inside the packed stadium, prominent Republican figures and media personalities paid tribute to Kirk, intertwining messages of faith and politics. Attendees were surrounded by images of Kirk, American flags, and Arizona Cardinals banners. Among the speakers was President Donald Trump, who reiterated his commitment to honor Kirk with a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom, declaring Kirk a martyr for American freedom.
“Our greatest evangelist for American liberty became immortal. He’s a martyr now for American freedom,” Trump stated. “We have to have religion brought back to America – we want to bring God back into our beautiful U.S.A. like never before.”
For those who did manage to enter, like Kelsey Griffin, the event was an opportunity to reflect on Kirk’s influence. “Is there any question he didn’t know the answer to? Wow,” Griffin said. “You know, like helping me learn politics and different communities, just things like I didn’t have time to sit down and research on my own, he knew the answers.”
Speakers such as Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and others shared their Christian convictions, while Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy, delivered a strikingly severe speech, labeling opponents as “wickedness” and praising Kirk’s supporters as builders and creators.
The event, which drew approximately 200,000 people, was characterized by heightened security measures. Attendees were prohibited from bringing bags or potential weapons, leading to piles of abandoned items at security checkpoints. The immense turnout left many, including Arizona local Meesha Fific, unable to enter. “Being an Arizona native and local, I can’t even get into an event that’s hosted in my own hometown,” Fific expressed.
As the stadium reached capacity, many redirected to nearby Desert Diamond Arena to watch the proceedings on a screen. Despite the somber occasion, the atmosphere was more akin to a political rally, with respectful debates occurring between dissenters and supporters outside the venue.
Inside, Trump addressed the crowd, disagreeing with Kirk’s widow, Erika, on the issue of forgiving enemies. He remarked, “It was an assault on our most sacred liberties and God-given rights. The gun was pointed at him, but the bullet was aimed at all of us. That bullet was aimed at every one of us.”
For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.
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