Meaning behind heartbreaking hand signal Erika Kirk made at husband Charlie's funeral

The meaning behind the hand gesture Erika Kirk made during her husband's funeral has been explained.

Charlie Kirk's memorial service took place in Arizona, US over the weekend (21 September), as the likes of Donald Trump and Elon Musk made up the tens of thousands in attendance at the State Farm Stadium.

The FBI has named 22-year-old Tyler Robinson as the number one suspect who allegedly shot and killed Kirk with a rifle from a nearby rooftop on September 10 in Utah.

Erika, the widow of the right-wing activist, said of the alleged killer at her husband's service: "That man, that young man, I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did and it is what Charlie would do.

"My husband, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life."

"He left this world without regret," she added. "He did 100 percent of what he could every day. But I want you to know something: Charlie died with incomplete work, but not with unfinished business."

Erika Kirk did the 'I love you' hand gesture at her husband's memorial service in Arizona at the weekend (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Then, standing alongside Trump in front of the mourning crowd, she also performed an 'I love you' hand gesture.

According to sign language app Lingvano, it's when you point out your thumb and index finger to form an 'L'.

"While keeping them extended, lift your little finger. Your middle and ring finger keep touching your palm," they explain. "Finally, direct your hand towards the person you are talking to."

Lingvano said the sign 'became a strong symbol in the Deaf Community and has since been spreading into the mainstream'.

In a new interview with the New York Times, Erika spoke further of her husband's death, saying: “I’ve had so many people ask, ‘Do you feel anger toward this man? Like, do you want to seek the death penalty?’

Erika said she 'forgives' the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk (Eric Thayer/Getty Images)

"I’ll be honest. I told our lawyer, I want the government to decide this. I do not want that man’s blood on my ledger."

She went on: "Because when I get to heaven, and Jesus is like: ‘Uh, eye for an eye? Is that how we do it?’ And that keeps me from being in heaven, from being with Charlie?"

Previously addressing her Kirk’s killer, Erika promised in a video shared on social media: "You have no idea the fire that you have ignited within this wife. The cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry.

"If you thought that my husband's mission was powerful before, you have no idea, you have no idea what you just have unleashed across this entire country and this world, you have no idea."