[Report] 90,000 Gather at Memorial for Charlie Kirk in U.S. Amidst Heated Cries of "Let's Fight"

Massive event held at Arizona stadium; hundreds of meters of queues formed 6 hours in advance

Attendees carrying American flags express "intense anger"; significant presence of young people in their 20s and 30s

President Trump and aides gather, urging the crowd to "stand up against evil"

Charlie Kirk memorial service, attended by approximately 70,000 people on the 21st (local time) [AFP=Yonhap News. Redistribution and DB prohibited]

"I arrived at 6 a.m. today, but it turns out I won't be able to get in. It's disappointing, but I'll watch the live broadcast from home."

Tim Johnson (21), whom I met outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona, at around 10 a.m. on the 21st (local time), told the Yonhap News reporter, "It's a shame I couldn't see it in person, but just seeing so many people gathered here with the same sentiment made it worth it."

Johnson had arrived five hours early to attend the memorial service for the late Charlie Kirk ("Building a Legacy: Remembering Charlie Kirk"), scheduled for 11 a.m. However, he turned back after event staff announced that no more attendees could be admitted.

Like Johnson, participants began lining up as early as the crack of dawn, forming queues hundreds of meters long five to six hours before the event began.

People kept pouring in, and the lines wound around the stadium to such an extent that it was impossible to tell where they ended.

Long queues for the Charlie Kirk memorial service (Glendale [Arizona, USA]=Yonhap News) Correspondent Lim Mi-na = At around 10 a.m. on the 21st (local time), people line up to attend the Charlie Kirk memorial service outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona. The end of the line is out of sight. mina@yna.co.kr

Hardcore supporters had been camping out since midnight with chairs and sleeping bags, leaving behind various piles of trash scattered along the roadside.

'Turning Point USA,' the political organization Kirk founded and led since 2012, had stated on its website during registration: "Entry is on a first-come, first-served basis up to the venue's capacity; registration does not guarantee entry."

In fact, by 8 a.m., event staff were telling those waiting, "It seems the stadium is already at full capacity." However, rumors that some seats might still be available kept people waiting with a glimmer of hope until around 10:30 a.m., when they finally left with expressions of disappointment.

Some of those waiting were directed to the adjacent 'Desert Diamond Arena,' where they watched the proceedings via a live broadcast on large screens.

The two facilities have maximum capacities of 73,000 and 19,000, respectively, totaling 92,000.

Due to the scale of the event and the attendance of President Donald Trump and key government officials, security inside and outside the venue was extremely tight.

An email sent by organizers to general participants the previous day stated: "Due to upgraded security protocols, available parking areas are limited."

Upon arriving at the scene that morning, I observed that the area within several dozen meters of the stadium was cordoned off with fences, and entry was only possible through the security checkpoint set up at the east gate.

Mounted police patrolling near the Charlie Kirk memorial site [AP=Yonhap News. Redistribution and DB prohibited]

Police cars were stationed at various points starting from 1 km away from the venue, and dozens of mounted police were deployed on the roads around the stadium. By the time the event began, helicopters were circling overhead to monitor the area.

Because the organizers had previously announced for security reasons that "no bags are allowed inside the venue," it was rare to see anyone with bags or bulky belongings. Instead, many people were carrying or waving American flags of various sizes, or wearing flags draped over their bodies.

The suggested "dress code" for the day was red, white, and blue—the colors of the American flag—but the prevalence of red led many to remark that it felt more like a Republican National Convention than a memorial service.

While middle-aged and older adults seemed to make up the largest portion of the crowd, there were also many young people and family groups.

Attendees expressed anger, characterizing the assassin not as an individual, but as a symbol of the violence of the political left.

Karl Kuhnsman, who came to attend the Charlie Kirk memorial service (Glendale [Arizona, USA]=Yonhap News) Correspondent Lim Mi-na = At around 9 a.m. on the 21st (local time), Karl Kuhnsman, who was waiting outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, to attend the Charlie Kirk memorial service, shares his thoughts with a Yonhap News reporter. mina@yna.co.kr

Karl Kuhnsman (58), wearing a red "MAGA" (Make America Great Again) hat, said, "Charlie Kirk fought for everyone to have the freedom to speak, express opinions, and debate, but 'they' killed him. Now, he will only become greater and stronger."

Regarding the conflict between the American left and right, he remarked, "It’s true that this incident has intensified the conflict, but let's compare. They murdered a man. Did we burn down cities? Did we torch vehicles? Did we assault people? No. We have always prayed, and now we have gathered to honor him."

He further emphasized, "In the past, when the left died or incidents like George Floyd's occurred—though he was a drug addict and a criminal—they burned down three cities and injured 1,800 police officers. That is how we know we are different from them."

He added with a heated tone, "Dialogue is a priority, but if we are attacked, we will defend ourselves."

Lauren Sobel (34), who drove a truck equipped with large screens to the site to play videos of Kirk, said, "I am an Arizona resident, and I have attended many events at this stadium over the decades, but I have never seen such a crowd. This is clear evidence of the impact Charlie Kirk had on this community."

Sobel added, "When you look at the inflammatory rhetoric from the opposing side, they call him a racist or a radical divider, but it seems most of those people have never actually listened to what Kirk had to say."

Sobel revealed that she did not vote for Trump in the 2016 election, but "four years later, realizing he was serious, I voted for Trump in 2020 and again last year."

Tom Hall (67), who also wore a MAGA hat, raised his voice, saying, "They killed a truly excellent young man. The radical left, which is becoming increasingly violent, is a major problem."

The Katz family, who came to attend the Charlie Kirk memorial service (Glendale [Arizona, USA]=Yonhap News) Correspondent Lim Mi-na = At around 10 a.m. on the 21st (local time), Leila Katz (31) and her daughter wave the American flag outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, to attend the Charlie Kirk memorial service. mina@yna.co.kr

There was also a family of four who said they had driven 16 hours from Kansas. Derek (39) and Leila Katz (31), who brought their middle-school daughter and elementary-school son, said they were avid fans of Kirk and that his values had a profound influence on their entire family.

Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA at just 18 and served as the face of the American "youth conservative" movement, was fatally shot while attending a debate at a university in Utah on the 10th. Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old college dropout, has been arrested and charged as the suspect.

The news that the suspect's roommate, who is believed to be his romantic partner, is transgender has further fueled the political divide in the U.S.

Given that Kirk was a heavy hitter in the "MAGA" movement and played a significant role in President Donald Trump’s reelection, President Trump and his inner circle attended the memorial service.

Trump’s aides characterized the political opposition, including Kirk’s assassin, as "evil," shouting, "Let's fight against evil."

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller asserted, "They didn't kill Kirk; they made him immortal. We will protect this world from evil, and they cannot take us down."

Conservative commentator and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson emphasized, "Forces of evil may think there will be a funeral for Kirk today, but we are witnessing his resurrection. If you thought you could suppress the entire conservative movement, that was your miscalculation."

The audience responded with fervent applause and cheers, with participants waving signs reading "Never Surrender" and "We're Charlie."

However, among those who spoke with the reporter at the site, there were also those who could be described as moderate conservatives.

Kyle Greer, waiting to enter the Charlie Kirk memorial service (Glendale [Arizona, USA]=Yonhap News) Correspondent Lim Mi-na = At around 8 a.m. on the 21st (local time), Kyle Greer, who came to attend the Charlie Kirk memorial service, smiles while wearing an American flag over his shoulders outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. mina@yna.co.kr

Kyle Greer (34), who drove six hours from Los Angeles the previous day to attend, said he didn't belong to any political party but leaned toward the right. He added, "It seems political conflict in the U.S. has become too extreme. Everyone needs to calm down and be reasonable. Violence solves nothing."

Johnson, whom I met earlier, also emphasized, "Both parties have clearly become very aggressive, and that shouldn't be the case. We need to be able to discuss our different ideas."

On the road outside the stadium fence, a small group of people opposing President Trump and the conservative movement held signs and voiced their opinions. One woman wearing a hijab waved a Palestinian flag and continuously shouted, "Free Palestine!"

As Trump supporters made their way to the memorial, they shouted back at them, "Go home!" and "Go back to Palestine!"

Michelle Richard (35), who held a sign with a drawing depicting President Trump as a lion in the jungle along with critical text, said, "I came here because I felt I had to stand up and fight. Trump is practically destroying our Constitution."

Richard raised her voice, stating, "Trump is the epitome of everything bad, and he is unfit for the presidency. It's time for him to step down." Yonhap News

A protester opposing President Trump (Glendale [Arizona, USA]=Yonhap News) Correspondent Lim Mi-na = On the morning of the 21st (local time), Michelle Richard, a protester opposing President Trump, holds a sign outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, where the Charlie Kirk memorial service was held. mina@yna.co.kr