At Charlie Kirk’s memorial in Glendale, Arizona, tens of thousands gathered to honor the 31-year-old conservative activist who was shot and killed earlier this month. The event featured major political figures, including Donald Trump and JD Vance, but it was Erika Kirk’s emotional moment on stage that moved people most.
As she joined Trump, Erika raised her thumb, index finger, and pinky, folding the others. Many online mistook it for a “rock on” sign or even “devil horns.” In truth, it was the American Sign Language “I Love You” symbol, formed by combining the letters I, L, and Y. She used it as a message to Charlie, showing that, even in death, “her love hadn’t faded.”
The gesture quickly went viral, praised as one of the most powerful and intimate tributes of the day.
During her speech, Erika broke down as she spoke of forgiveness, telling mourners: “The answer to hate is not hate. The answer is love, always love.”
Her simple but deeply personal gesture, combined with her words, became the defining moment of the service, remembered as both heartbreaking and beautiful.
