1 of 5 | Slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk is pictured with his wife, Erika, and their two daughters in a recent photo. Photo by Erika Kirk/Instagram
Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, addressed the nation for the first time on Friday as suspect Tyler Robinson remains jailed without bail pending his arraignment hearing on Tuesday.
Erika thanked first responders who tried to save Charlie’s life and law enforcement for capturing Robinson and protecting Turning Point USA members and their families in the aftermath of Charlie’s shooting death during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University shortly after noon on Wednesday.
“My heart is with every one of my husband’s employees who lost a friend and a mentor,” Erika said after thanking law enforcement and others for protecting Turning Point USA members and their families.
“Two days ago, my husband, Charlie, went to see the face of his savior and his God,” Erika continued.
“Charlie always said that when he was gone, he wanted to be remembered for his courage and for his faith. Now and for all eternity, he will stand at his savior’s side, wearing the glorious crown of a martyr.”
She said Charlie loved life, America, nature, the Chicago Cubs and the Oregon Ducks.
He showed his love for her and their two daughters every day by asking how he could serve her better, be a better husband and be a better father.
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“He’s such a good man,” Erika said. “He still is a good man. He was the perfect father. He was the perfect husband.”
She said Charlie’s priority was to revive the American family and he “laid down his life for me, for our nation, for our children.”
Erika cited a “worldwide outpouring of love for my husband” and said the “evildoers responsible for my husband’s assassination have no idea what they have done.”
“They killed Charlie because he preached a message of patriotism, faith and of god’s merciful love,” Erika added.
“If you thought that my husband’s mission was powerful before, you have no idea … what you just have unleashed across this country and this world,” she said.
“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,” Erika said.
“The movement my husband built will not die,” she added. “It will become stronger, bolder, louder and greater than ever. My husband’s mission will not end, not even for a moment.”
The suspected killer, Robinson, 22, was booked at the Utah County Jail in Spanish Fork, Utah, shortly before 8 a.m. on Friday.
He remains jailed without bail on charges that accuse him of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury and obstruction of justice in the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, 31.
Utah’s Fourth District Court has scheduled his arraignment hearing on Tuesday, CNN and CBS News reported.
