Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, forgave her husband’s killer in an emotional speech at his memorial in Glendale.

Kirk was shot and killed during a political event in Utah on Sept. 10. He was the creator of Turning Point USA, an Arizona-based political group, and a close ally of President Donald Trump.

Erika Kirk gave an emotional address to the tens of thousands of people gathered at State Farm Stadium. A devout Christian, she told the story of Jesus praying “father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” while he was being crucified.

Then, she turned to her husband’s accused killer.

“That young man. I forgive him,” Erika Kirk said “The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the gospel is love and always love.”

Erika Kirk received a standing ovation from the crowd.

Utah man Tyler Robinson, 22, was charged with Kirk’s murder. The governor of Utah called the attack a political assasination. The suspect’s motives have been the subject of intense speculation in recent days.

Kirk wanted to help the “lost boys of the west” who feel like they have no direction or will to live, Erika Kirk said. Her husband was known for his focus on bringing young people, particularly young men, into the conservative fold through Turning Point USA. He encouraged young men to get married and start families.

“He wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life,” Erika Kirk said.

Kirk was mourned as a martyr for free speech and Christian values during a massive memorial service. The event drew the nation’s highest-ranking government officials.

Trump called Kirk’s assassin a “radicalized, cold-blooded monster.”

Stopping at times to wipe her tears, Erika Kirk spoke about Kirk’s legacy and their marriage. She described the heartache of going to Utah after he had been killed and seeing the wound that ended his life.

“Even in death, I could see the man that I love,” Erika Kirk said. “I also saw on his lips the faintest smile, and that told me something important. It revealed to me a great mercy from God in this tragedy. I saw that, it told me Charlie didn’t suffer.”

Erika Kirk’s speech remembering her late husband was also her first as the new leader of Turning Point USA.

The organization’s board unanimously voted for her as the new CEO of the organization her husband founded as a teenager and grew into a political powerhouse. She pledged to continue Turning Point’s mission in his memory.

“Charlie and I were united in purpose. His passion was my passion, and now his mission is my mission. Everything that Turning Point USA built through Charlie’s vision and hard work, we will make 10 times greater through the power of his memory,” Erika Kirk said.

Erika Kirk grew up in Arizona and was crowned Miss Arizona USA in 2012. She hosts the Midweek Rise Up podcast and promotes conservative, Christian views. She married Kirk in 2021 and the couple have two young children.

Stephanie Murray covers national politics and the Trump administration for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Reach her via email at stephanie.murray@gannett.com and on social media @stephanie_murr.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Erika Kirk forgives Charlie Kirk’s killer in emotional speech