Charlie Kirk was shot in the neck while at a public university debate event in Utah – with 100,000 guests from around the world making their way to pay their respects
Many political figures are present for the memorial service of assassinated right wing political activist, Charlie Kirk. From Donald Trump to Elon Musk, several high profile guests have made comparisons regarding the late debater.
Around 100,000 admirers have gathered in Arizona, US, for the service, which resembles a rally as guests were provided with placards with Donald Trump’s name on. The social media sensation was fatally shot 11 days ago at a university debate, with his death sparking a world-wide debate about the freedom of speech.
Perhaps feeling quite strongly about the issue, many speakers have made bold comparisons about Kirk being the same as civil rights campaigner, Martin Luther King.
Both MLK and JF Kennedy, were gunned down during critical campaigns to better the lives of Black Americans. Some of Kirk’s supporters think the republican died in a similar fashion.
Ms Paulina-Luna, the controversial Republican House of Representatives member for Florida’s 13th district, said during her speech: “His name will stand etched in the history besides the likes of JFK, who boldly challenged a generation to ask what they could do for their country amid the shadows of the Cold War, and Dr. King, who marched into the jaws of hatred, sacrificing his safety and ultimately his life, to bend the arc of history towards justice.”
Mr Kirk was highly critical of MLK, once saying he was “awful” and “not a good person”, adding during a speech that he “said one good thing he actually didn’t believe”.
Before that address, Dr Ben Carson, a prominent Black American conservative and surgeon, spoke to the crowd at the funeral.
He read a passage of the Bible from his phone, and has thanked Mr Kirk for his “sacrifice” before claiming “much fruit will be realised”.
Jack Posobiec, a far-right influencer and anchor on the One American News Network (OANN) followed Ms Paulina-Luna.
He has used his speech to bizarrely compare Mr Kirk to Moses leading his people over the River Jordan and into the Promised Land, claiming he “stood on the precipice” but was not allowed to cross as the Biblical figure had.
Afterwards, Frank Turek, a Christian philosopher who was with Kirk when he was shot, addressed the crowd, saying people “did everything [they] could to save Charlie.”
He went on to describe his final moments, saying: “His face was looking at mine, but he wasn’t looking at me. He was looking past me right into eternity. And if it’s any comfort at all, I learned later that Charlie felt no pain. He died instantly.”
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