By Jarrett Stepman, Lorenzo Prieto, Al Perrotta | The Daily Signal
A massive funeral for Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk held on Sunday featured some of the most prominent members of President Donald Trump’s administration and countless other speakers, including Kirk’s widow Erika, who when speaking of her husband’s assassin declared “I forgive him.”
The New York Post reported on Sunday that the Arizona Cardinals stadium, with a 73,000 person capacity, “filled up within hours of doors opening at 8 a.m. local time.” But with other spaces around the stadium being filled, the total number of people in attendance was likely over 200,000 the Post reported.
Here are some of the most prominent speeches of the afternoon.
1. ‘I Forgive Him’
In this moment of anger and turmoil in the country, people are demanding vengeance and retribution for Charlie Kirk’s death, with many calling for harsh punishment of the suspected killer, Tyler Robinson.
However, in a stunning moment of grace amid grief, Mrs. Erika Kirk took the stage to remind everyone that the teachings of Jesus and of her husband were always to forgive.
Amid the tears and emotion, Kirk declared, “On the cross, our Savior said, ‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.’ That man. That young man. I forgive him.”
Three powerful words that brought the crowd to its feet in an extended standing ovation.
Kirk’s widow emphasized that although the nation is grieving the passing of her husband, conservatives, Republicans and Christians—who rightfully are angry—didn’t allow themselves to burn streets or cities down.
They didn’t let the anger cloud their judgment, she said. Instead, the nation turned to God, resulting in the highest number of young men attending churches and reading the Bible.
”We saw people open a Bible for the first time in a decade. We saw people pray for the first time since they were children. We saw people go to a church service for the first time in their entire lives.”
2. Spreading the Word of God and Helping Others Speak About Faith
For millions of Americans, Kirk was a conduit to engaging with and speaking about their Christian faith. One of those Americans is Vice President J.D. Vance, who said in his remarks that until recently he was “a little uncomfortable” talking about his faith in public.
“I have talked more about Jesus Christ in the past two weeks than I have my ENTIRE time in public life,” Vance said to applause and a standing ovation.
The vice president said that bringing discussions about Christianity and faith back into national discourse is the legacy of Kirk’s career.
“He loved God, and because he loved God, he wanted to understand God’s creation, and the men and women made in his image,” Vance said. In doing this he brought to the world the “truth that Jesus Christ was the King of Kings,” Vance said.
Vance commented that Kirk suffered a terrible fate due to the assassin who killed him. But this isn’t the worst fate.
“It is better to face a gunman than to live your life afraid to speak the truth,” he said. “It is better to die a young man in this world than to sell your soul for an easy life with no purpose, no risk, no love, and no truth.”
3. Saving Young Men, Encouraging Them to be Men of Character and Faith
Kirk spent much of his life trying to help young men find direction in their lives, to become better men and better fathers. That was among the things Secretary of State Marco Rubio focused on in his speech.
“He had a very special and direct impact on young men in this country,” Rubio said of Kirk. “That is one of the greatest developments I’ve seen. That is very positive. I think we remember him for that.”
From these men that Kirk inspired, Rubio said a “Renaissance” is coming to America.”
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