Erika Kirk Reflects On Forgiveness, Grief, & Faith Following Charlie’s Death
Erika Kirk Joins CBS Town Hall (YouTube/CBS News) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
Charlie Kirk, who was known as a major conservative voice and CEO of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed during a Q&A session held at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 10.
The incident happened while Charlie was under the pop-up tent for his “American Comeback Tour,” with hundreds of people gathered on the school’s campus.
Just two days later, his wife, Erika Frantzve, delivered her first speech following the fatal shooting.
Erika talked about the impact Charlie left here on this earth and the movement that he started to inspire young people and point them to Christ.
She spoke from Charlie’s podcast studio in Arizona, reflecting on his bold life of action and love while standing next to his empty chair.
On September 18, Turning Point USA announced that its board had unanimously elected Erika Kirk as the organization’s new CEO and Chair of the Board.
RELATED: Erika Kirk & TPUSA Share Touching Tribute To Charlie On What Would Have Been His 32nd Birthday
Erika Kirk Joins CBS News For A Town Hall
Erika joined CBS News for a town hall this week where she reflected on life following Charlie’s tragic death.
Moderated by CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, the discussion marked the first in a planned series of CBS News town halls and debates.
Among the invited participants were Utah Valley University student Hunter Kozak, the last person to speak with Charlie Kirk, and Robert Milgrim, the father of Israeli Embassy staffer Sarah Milgrim, the young woman killed in a targeted shooting in Washington, DC, in May.
During Charlie’s memorial service, Erika stunned the audience when she tearfully shared that she forgave her husband’s killer.
“I forgive him because it’s what Christ did and is what Charlie would do,” she said at the time.
She told Weiss during the town hall that it was a “game-time decision,” emphasizing that she would never say anything she didn’t truly mean.
“But am I gonna take that moment to say, ‘Rally the troops, burn the city down, march in the streets?’ Or am I gonna take that moment and unleash something like we talked about, even greater, more powerful and say, ‘It’s a revival.’ And let that unleash, and let the Lord use it in ways that no one else could’ve ever imagined,” Erika explained.
When asked if she had any words for Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of killing Charlie, Erika responded: “Nothing. I have nothing to say to you. Nothing.”
One student questioned how she was able to continue trusting God amidst all of the suffering she’s experienced, and Erika referred to the book of Job in the Bible.
Erika says she is inspired by Job’s passion for boldly praying for others, and finds hope in the fact that the Lord ultimately restored everything he had lost.
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