Fact Check: Did liberals and Democrats protest outside Charlie Kirk’s memorial venue?

GLENDALE, ARIZONA: Days after Charlie Kirk's memorial service in Arizona, online chatter has erupted with claims that liberals and Democrats staged a protest outside the event. 

The speculation gained traction due to Kirk's high-profile role as a right-wing influencer, especially following his public killing on September 10 in Utah. But are the rumors true? Here’s what we know so far.

What is the claim about Charlie Kirk's memorial protestors?

The event attracted tens of thousands of mourners from across the country and included speeches by US President Donald Trump, prominent right-wing figures, and tributes framing Charlie Kirk as a "symbol of conservative and Christian values."

Not long after the service concluded, viral posts on social media began circulating claims that liberals and Democrats had gathered outside the stadium to protest. Some posts went further, alleging that thousands of left-wing demonstrators had "raided" the memorial.

One widely shared image showed a protester opposing the Charlie Kirk memorial seated near members of the Westboro Baptist Church, who were also demonstrating outside the service held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Claim reported online, "Liberals or left-wing protesters protested outside Charlie Kirk's memorial service in large numbers."

Many of the social media posts featured vague accusations. One video, viewed more than 1.3 million times on X, was captioned, "Imagine protesting a memorial service for a murdered father and husband and thinking you're a good person. Really evil."

Similar narratives spread across multiple platforms, reaching millions. Comment sections were filled with users blaming liberals, Democrats, or the left in general for the protests.

Protesters outside memorial were not liberals or Democrats

Multiple reports confirm that the protesters outside the memorial were not liberals or Democrats, but members of the Westboro Baptist Church, a fringe religious group based in Kansas.

Video footage shows them gathered on West Maryland Avenue, just north of State Farm Stadium, in an area designated by Glendale officials as a "free speech zone." Signs seen in the footage, including messages like "Sins breed violence" and "America is doomed," are consistent with the group's well-documented rhetoric.

The Westboro Baptist Church had publicly announced on its website that it intended to picket Charlie Kirk’s memorial. Despite viral claims online of thousands of demonstrators, US media reports indicate that only a small group of protesters was present.

The group first gained national attention during the Iraq War for staging provocative protests at the funerals of fallen service members. In 2010, they drew significant public outrage for displaying inflammatory slogans in Washington, DC, and have continued similar activities over the years.