Memorial service held for slain U.S. conservative activist Charlie Kirk
發佈日期: 2025-09-22 21:51
TVB News
U.S. President Donald Trump praised Charlie Kirk as a "great American hero" and "martyr" for freedom.
This, as he and other prominent guests gathered on Sunday evening to honour the slain conservative political activist whose work they say they must now advance.
The memorial service for slain conservative political activist Charlie Kirk drew tens of thousands of mourners including U.S. President Donald Trump and other senior White House officials.
Speakers highlighted Kirk's profound faith and his strong belief that young conservatives need to get married, have children and pass on their values to keep building their movement.
They also repeatedly told conservative activists, sometimes in forceful tones, the best way to honour Kirk was doubling down on his mission to move American politics further to the right.
U.S. President Trump said Kirk played a pivotal role in his re-election as U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance praised the activist's role in promoting conservative values.
U.S. President Donald Trump :"Charlie Kirk was, without a doubt, among the most influential figures in the most important election in the history of our country. The election of, oh, that beautiful day, November 5th, 2024. Do you remember that day?It was nine months ago. What a day that was. He didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve this, our country didn't deserve this and anyone who would make excuses for it are just out of their mind. Charlie's murder was not just an attack on one man or one movement, it was an attack on our entire nation."
Vice President J.D. Vance :"He transformed the face of conservatism in our own time, and in doing so, he changed the course of American history."
Charlie Kirk's widow, Erika, in her own address, said in the midst of her grief she was finding comfort that her husband left this world without regrets.
She also said she forgives the man who is charged with killing him.
"My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life, that man. I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did and is what Charlie would do. The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the gospel is love and always love."
Charlie Kirk was killed with a single bullet as he answered an audience member's question at a campus event in Utah on September 10th.
A 22-year-old Utah technical college student has been charged with Kirk's murder.
Investigators are still probing for a motive, which remains unclear.
Civil rights groups criticised Kirk's rhetoric, claiming it was racist, anti-immigrant, transphobic and misogynistic.
His backers say he was a defender of conservative values and a champion of free speech.
Kirk's death has raised fears about the growing frequency of U.S. political violence across the ideological spectrum,
while also deepening partisan divides.
