Charlie Kirk, 31, was shot and killed on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University during his Turning Point USA comeback tour. Two days later, police arrested Tyler Robinson, 22, who now faces seven charges, including aggravated murder and obstruction of justice.

At Sunday’s memorial, Kirk’s widow, Erika, gave a powerful speech. She revealed that despite her grief, she had “forgiven” her husband’s killer, saying: “On the cross, our savior said: ‘Father, forgive them for they not know what they do.’ That man, that young man, I forgive him… The answer to hate is not hate. The answer… is love.”

Erika described seeing Kirk’s body in the hospital: “I saw the wound that ended his life. I felt shock. I felt horror, and a level of heartache that I didn’t even know existed… Even in death, I could see the man that I love… I also saw on his lips the faintest smile.”

Doctors told her Kirk’s death was instantaneous: “Even if Charlie had been shot in the operating room itself, nothing could have been done. There was no pain, there was no fear, no agony.”

She ended with a call to faith and hope: “Charlie’s life was a turning point for this country… Choose prayer, choose courage, choose beauty, choose adventure, choose family, choose a life of faith. Most importantly, choose Christ.”