Donald Trump and other prominent American political figures will be attending a memorial service for Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative activist who was killed two weeks ago in Arizona. The event, which is organized by Turning Point USA (TPUSA), is set to take place on Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale and is expected to draw more than 100,000 attendees.
The memorial will feature heightened security measures, including “TSA-level screening”, as stated by TPUSA. Kirk, who co-founded Turning Point USA at the age of 18, was killed by a gunshot at a speaking event on a Utah university campus on September 10, reigniting concerns surrounding political violence in the US.
Charlie Kirk’s legacy and the motives behind his murder have been polarizing and have further exacerbated political divisions in the US. In addition to Trump, who will be speaking at the service, those expected to speak include Kirk’s widow, Erika, who took over his role as TPUSA CEO; Vice President JD Vance; Donald Trump Jr; right-wing political commentator Tucker Carlson; and homeland security adviser and White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller. Publications in the US usually advocate for calm, prayers, and unity in response to public shootings. In contrast, the Trump administration blames the “radical left” for the violence, which has given rise to accusations of government intrusion and claims that Kirk’s death is being used as an excuse to infringe on civil liberties.
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p class=”sc-9a00e533-0 bJoRPJ”>Doors for the memorial will open at 08:00 local time (16:00 BST), with the official program starting at 11:00 (19:00 BST). The recommended dress code is “Sunday best – red, white or blue”. With a capacity of just over 63,000, the State Farm Stadium will allow entry on a “first come, first served” basis. A nearby 20,000 capacity stadium will serve as an overflow area if necessary. The event will also be live-streamed on Charlie Kirk’s Rumble account, as announced by TPUSA. At the stadium, enhanced security measures, including “TSA-level screening”, will be in place, with the event having the same security classification as high-profile events like the Super Bowl. A Department of Homeland Security official told CBS that agents intercepted a man on Friday who “exhibited suspicious behavior” in the stadium. He was reported to be armed and claimed he was a member of law enforcement. He was subsequently charged with impersonating law enforcement and carrying a weapon in a prohibited place but was later released on bond. TPUSA’s Andrew Kolvet stated on social media that the man was a private security advisor for a “known guest” who was checking the area ahead of the event. Martinez claimed the man did not have any malicious intentions but acknowledged a lack of coordination with the TPUSA security team or US Secret Service. The
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yqqelk39go?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
