The United States Secret Service is spearheading the security operations for the upcoming memorial service for Charlie Kirk, slated for Sunday at a football stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
The event has been accorded the status of "highest national significance," according to The Hill. The memorial, which is anticipated to include speeches from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, will take place at the State Farm Stadium, located west of Phoenix. This venue is also the home ground for the NFL's Arizona Cardinals.
As reported by The Hill, the memorial service has been categorized as a Special Event Assessment Rating Level 1 gathering. This is the highest federal rating, usually associated with Super Bowl-level security measures.
A Department of Homeland Security official explained to NewsNation, The Hill's sister network, "This designation is reserved for events of the highest national significance and enables the federal government to provide the full range of law enforcement and security resources necessary to support local officials in ensuring a safe and successful event."
The tragic assassination of Kirk occurred last week during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University. The university is currently under investigation for its alleged failure to provide the level of security that Kirk had been accustomed to at other campuses.
However, this will not be the case at the upcoming memorial. "The U.S. Secret Service has been designated as the Federal Coordinator for this effort. Our teams are already on the ground in Phoenix and Glendale, working side-by-side with state, local, and federal partners," stated William Mack, the special agent in charge of the Secret Service's Phoenix field office, in a conversation with NewsNation.
The memorial service is expected to attract tens of thousands of mourners, given that the State Farm Stadium has a seating capacity of over 63,000. Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk and the newly appointed CEO and chair of Turning Point USA, is also scheduled to deliver a speech. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is among the expected speakers.
In a live address last week, just two days after her husband's murder, Erika Kirk directed her words at the "evildoers responsible" for her husband's demise. She stated, "They killed Charlie because he preached a message of patriotism, faith, and of God's merciful love."
She further warned, "If you thought that my husband's mission was powerful before, you have no idea. You have no idea what you just have unleashed across this entire country and this world. You have no idea. You have no idea the fire that you have ignited within this wife. The cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry."
The memorial service for Charlie Kirk is not just an event to remember a fallen conservative leader, but also a testament to the resilience of his mission and the determination of his followers to carry on his legacy. The security measures in place reflect the gravity of the situation and the commitment to ensure a safe space for those mourning Kirk's loss.
As the nation prepares to bid farewell to a man who championed patriotism, faith, and God's love, the words of his widow, Erika Kirk, serve as a rallying cry for those left behind to continue the fight.
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