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A memorial service has begun at State Farm Stadium for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed while holding a meeting at the University of Utah.
Over 200,000 people are attending the ceremony, which was killed on September 10, during the "Prove Me Wrong Table" event at Utah Valley University, when he was shot by Tyler Robinson.
The high turnout has created a serious capacity problem. State Farm Stadium, where the ceremony is held, has a capacity of 63,000, with room for another 10,000. Therefore, the nearby Desert Diamond Arena is used as a meeting place for the rest of the world.
Despite the fact that this is a funeral, the atmosphere at State Farm Stadium is anything but mournful. Attendees are mostly wearing the national colors of red, white and blue, as requested by the organizers. Black is almost nonexistent.
United States President Donald Trump described today as a "tough day" before leaving the White House for Arizona to attend the funeral of slain activist Charlie Kirk.
“I’ll give them my love. There’s not much to say,” Trump told reporters when asked about his message to Kirk’s family. The president praised the young activist’s impact, calling his work “tremendous.” “He had a huge impact on young people because they loved him. They respected him,” he added. “A very difficult day,” he said in closing.
The large number of government officials who attended the event was reflected in the fact that the White House used two government planes for the trip to Arizona. Among those on board were trade adviser Peter Navarro, communications director Steven Cheng and deputy chief of staff James Blair.
According to reports, President Trump, Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as the deceased's widow, Erica Kirk, are expected to speak at the ceremony, among others.
Erica Kirk begged her husband to wear a bulletproof vest the day before he was killed, but he refused. The activist also rejected a friend's suggestion that they talk behind bulletproof glass. "I strongly believe that this was God's plan. It's so clear," the influencer said, adding that she wears the bloodstained necklace the activist was wearing when he was shot.
"Last week we brought my dear friend Charlie Kirk home for the last time. Today we return to Arizona to remember Charlie and honor his sacrifice. May he rest in eternal peace and may God watch over Erica and their beautiful children," said US Vice President JD Vance on Platform X.
Before the memorial service for Charlie Kirk, posters with the Bible verse "Here you are, send me" (Isaiah 6:8) were hung throughout the stadium along with a portrait of the deceased. At the same time, each seat wore a red bracelet that read "We are Charlie Kirk," CNN reports.
Security measures are draconian. By order of the Department of Homeland Security, State Farm Stadium, where Charlie Kirk's funeral will take place, has been transformed into a fortress.
The plan was drafted just 10 days after Kirk's assassination, putting federal, state and intelligence agencies on the highest level of alert, which face one of the greatest security challenges due to the strong political polarization in the country.
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