At least 90,000 people crowded into the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona for Charlie Kirk’s memorial on September 21. Thousands more overflowed into nearby venues. An estimated 200,000 people attended in person from the stadium and overflow venues or tuned in online.
One of the most sincere, shocking, and tear-jerking moments in the memorial was Erika Kirk publicly forgiving her husband’s assassin. Erika referenced Luke 23:34, the verse where Jesus Christ, while hanging on the cross, forgives his own murderers. Then, struggling to choke back tears and asking God for strength, she publicly forgave Tyler Robinson for killing her husband and the father of her two children, the well-beloved Charlie Kirk.
“The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the Gospel is love, always love,” Erika stated.
This was no show of political theatre or mere Christian rhetoric. With the words “I forgive him,” Erika reflected God’s true and abounding love and mercy.
In addition to being Turning Point USA’s new CEO and Chair of the Board, Erika Kirk also serves as the Founder and Owner of Everyday Heroes Like You, Biblein365, and PROCLAIM streetwear. She also hosts the “Midweek Rise Up” podcast.
Watch here: ‘Answer to hate is not to hate’: Erika Kirk says she forgives Charlie Kirk’s shooter
Natalie Spaulding, a 2025 Hillsdale College graduate, recently joined the Must Read Alaska team.
We have to forgive in order to be forgiven, and when we do, it releases us from being held under by whatever transgression exists. Failing to forgive is to accept and commit yourself to drowning under whatever it is.
Or said another way, “Hatred corrodes the vessel that contains it”.
It’s like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die
Will someone please convey these ideas to Trump, Vance, Noem, Bondi, Hegseth, and Homan? Despite their purported Christianity, they seem oblivious to them.
Forgiving is one thing. Ignoring the actions they took is another.
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It sounds like you are saying that the people responsible for enforcing the laws of the nation should instead ignore the criminal violations.
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I watched Erika Kirk give her speech at her husband’s memorial service. At no point did she say her husband’s assassin should be let free, or that he should not suffer the consequences of his actions. Perhaps the version I watched was edited or something.
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Just because one is a Christian does not mean one cannot dole out punishments for violations of the law.
“The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the Gospel is love, always love,” Erika stated. MRAKers are deaf to such peaceful words.
I am going to have to ask for examples, please.
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Last time I checked, I can still love another person without tolerating their bad behavior. So, please share with all of us examples of when MRAK readers have espoused hatred as a group. Yes, there are a few MRAK readers who do have hate in their hearts. But you made a very broad statement, and I want to see some widespread examples of what you mean.
Why do you make generalized statements against a a group of people who read these articles online of which only a handful of them actually post comments?
The world is not so black and white, there are many colors in between and many folks in this existence think vastly different than each other, with their own perspectives, hopes and dreams.
Seems like you have created a strawman in your head for you to attack to make yourself feel like you have some kind of role in social justice.
Perhaps you should understand that each individual is responsible for their own thoughts and actions and that humanity cannot be divided into neat little groups simply for your mental convenience.
Something I find funny is those who openly spout “Love is love” can be seen as predators who wear the colors of the broken rainbow as well as those who wear the color of holy cloth. Both predatory towards the vulnerable youth in their communities.
How do you like that generalization?
I hope Turning Point USA’s very good work on campuses will continue and grow stronger. I did not see Charlie Kirk’s funeral live, but I saw excerpts including the famous “I forgive him…” statement concerning the assassin. I feel for young Erika and her 2 children as she struggles with her grief.
But I must confess, the words “I forgive him…” and “that young man…” made me feel a bit sick. It did not sit well with me. I do not blame Erika Kirk for saying whatever she feels moved to say during these trying times – it’s none of my business.
But my 2 cents opinion is that expressing forgiveness for a rotten scumbag murderer is premature when the trial has not even started. I think the proper time to forgive a killer of a loved one is after he has been convicted and is on death row and is soon to get the firing squad, and has expressed sincere remorse for his vile evil deed.
Exactly!