Memorial for Charlie Kirk set to draw 100,000 mourners with high-security plan at State Farm Stadium
Federal authorities designate the service a level-1 event, with Secret Service coordinating security as attendees and VIPs converge in Glendale, Arizona.
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The memorial service for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium on Sunday has been designated a level-1 “special event assessment rating” by federal authorities, a designation that enables the deployment of the full range of law-enforcement resources to protect attendees. Department of Homeland Security officials told The Post the designation signals the event’s national significance and that federal agencies will work alongside state and local partners to plan and execute security measures. The service, titled Building a Legacy: Remembering Charlie Kirk, is expected to draw more than 100,000 mourners and will begin at 11 a.m. MST. It will be televised by FOX and CBS.
Live eulogies are planned from former President Donald Trump and Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk. VIP speakers are slated to include White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles; Secretary of State Marco Rubio; Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; Secretary of War Pete Hegseth; U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard; Donald Trump Jr.; Tucker Carlson; White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller; and Director of the White House Personnel Office Sergio Gor. Worship services will be led by Chris Tomlin, Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham, Kari Jobe Carnes and Cody Carnes.
Security coordination will be led by the U.S. Secret Service, which says its teams are already on the ground in Phoenix and Glendale, working alongside state, local, and federal partners. A law-enforcement memo obtained by The Post warned that violent extremists and unaffiliated lone offenders may view the memorial or related events as attractive targets due to the attendance of senior U.S. government officials, state and local officials, political activists and major international media attention. The note underscored the need to prepare for a broad spectrum of security scenarios, including aerial and other security measures that may not be visible to the naked eye. Metal detectors and a strict no-bag policy will be in effect, and hundreds of officers will be stationed around the stadium.
Organizers say the memorial is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, though attendees were asked to register with Turning Point USA. Officials note that the crowd is expected to far exceed the stadium’s 73,000-seat capacity, with overflow crowds anticipated at the adjacent Desert Diamond Arena, which has a 20,000-person capacity. Overnight camping in the parking area is not allowed, but Glendale police officials said crowds could begin lining up as early as 2 a.m., hours before doors open at 8 a.m. local time. Security will include measures that span the sky and ground, as well as visible and less-visible components, to help ensure a safe event for the attendees.
In lieu of flowers, funeral organizers are requesting donations to Turning Point USA. Erika Kirk is expected to be a headline speaker at the memorial service. Kirk, a 31-year-old married father of two and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed Sept. 10 as he engaged with an audience at Utah Valley University. His suspected attacker, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, is being held without bail on charges including first-degree murder. The memorial service is part of a broader public outpouring of grief and political support for Kirk and his organization, which is based in Phoenix.
Officials have emphasized that the event’s scale and the prominence of attendees will require extensive security coordination across multiple jurisdictions, with a focus on minimizing disruption for local residents while ensuring safety for participants and spectators.
