A large, heavily policed memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk is taking place Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, where President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak to a crowd expected to number in the tens of thousands. Organizers say the NFL venue — which seats more than 63,000 will be filled, with overflow space arranged nearby as supporters, politicians and allied activists converge to pay tribute to the Turning Point USA founder who was fatally shot earlier this month.
Kirk, 31, was killed on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University; a 22-year-old suspect has been charged in the attack. The shooting intensified already bitter political divisions in Washington and on the campaign trail, and the memorial has taken on an explicitly political tone as senior figures in the MAGA movement and the Trump administration prepare remarks. In public comments before departing for Arizona, Mr. Trump described Kirk as “a great man” and said the event should be “a time of healing.”
Federal, state and local authorities have poured resources into security for the event, which officials say carries a high risk profile because of the attendance of senior national figures and reports of threats. The Department of Homeland Security has given the gathering one of its highest special-event risk designations, and law enforcement agencies have implemented stringent measures — including a no-bag policy, expanded police deployments and surrounding countermeasures — to protect mourners and speakers. Organizers and authorities are emphasizing safety while also preparing for the possibility of large protests and counter-demonstrations outside the stadium.
Reaction to the service and to leaders’ involvement has been mixed. Many conservatives and allies of Kirk have framed the memorial as both a tribute and a rallying moment, celebrating his role building a youth movement that became central to modern conservative politics. Critics, including some Democrats and civil-society groups, have warned against politicizing the killing and cautioned that the rhetoric surrounding the shooting risks inflaming tensions. Meanwhile, the White House and Republican lawmakers have used the episode to denounce what they describe as political violence from the left, a claim that has further deepened partisan debate.
The memorial’s scale, the star-studded guest list and the security resources committed to the event underscore how quickly Kirk’s death has become a focal point for national politics. As speakers take the stage, organizers say the ceremony will celebrate Kirk’s work mobilizing young conservatives while also urging unity and remembrance even as the broader political fallout continues to play out across the country.
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