100,000 Attend Memorial for Conservative Leader Charlie Kirk in Arizona

The memorial service for Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent conservative voice, drew over 100,000 attendees including President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and other high-ranking officials to honor his legacy and his impact on youth conservatism. Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, publicly forgave her husband's assassin during the ceremony, which featured patriotic and Christian musical performances and tributes highlighting Kirk's faith and dedication to conservative values. Minnesota State Rep. Elliott Engen shared how Kirk inspired him to engage politically and stand up for his beliefs, illustrating Kirk's influence on younger generations of conservatives. However, Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett expressed her opposition to a House resolution condemning Kirk's assassination, citing his rhetoric as harmful to people of color and refusing to honor him due to his alleged negative comments about her and her civil rights work. Conservative commentator Scott Jennings criticized Democrats and CNN for spreading false accusations against Kirk during the mourning period, accusing them of fostering division and dishonesty. These contrasting responses underscore the polarized political reactions to Kirk's life and assassination.