In spite of an early start, thousands of people who went to Arizona to join in the Charlie Kirk Memorial at State Farm arena were caught in an hours long traffic jam.

They were unable to get into the main arena, or an overflow arena.

Erie News Now Mickenzie Robson got a 4:00 a.m. start, heading to the arena to cover the memorial, but she found that many people had camped out about a mile away from the arena, and streamed in in the morning.

Despite long lines, people she talked to spoke positively about their experience gathering with other Kirk supporters.  News sources say some 95,000 were inside the arena.  

President Donald Trump, Vice President Vance and others in the cabinet spoke at the memorial. Along with friends, supporters and members of Charlie Kirk's non-profit Turning Point USA, speakers praised the slain political conservative activist as a singular force whose work they must now advance.

Kirk, just 31, was killed by an assassin as he spoke during a Sept. 10th appearance on a Utah college campus.  His widow told the crowd that she forgives "that young man."  She went on to say that's what Jesus did, what Charlie would do. Erika Kirk added, "the answer to hate is not hate.  The answer we know from the gospel is love and always love.  Love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us."