On September 10, Charlie Kirk, an American right-wing activist and co-founder of the Turning Point USA organization, was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University. As horrifying video footage of the assassination spread rapidly across social media, a majority of the reactions have consisted of mourning and immense frustration with the increasing political violence in America. However, unsurprisingly, there has also been a significant number of people celebrating Kirk’s death simply because they disagreed with the things he said.
Kirk was specifically known for his presence on college campuses, where he would provide an open microphone for anyone who wanted to question or debate him. As a member of the Republican Party, he often used these debates to spread conservative values on topics like abortion, immigration and the economy, as well as to educate others. As Kirk unapologetically voiced his controversial opinions, he was met with praise from those who agreed with him, but deep resentment from those who did not.
Obviously, it is an instinct to feel frustrated, provoked, and even angry when someone is making statements you disagree with or feel personally targeted by. However, no intensity of emotion justifies resorting to murder. I, along with many others on this side of the argument, could easily say that no matter how much I disagreed with or hated a person, wishing harm on them or, worse, championing their death, would never cross my mind. At its core, this is not about being on the left or right anymore; it is about having basic human decency.
As I scroll across countless videos on social media of people celebrating Kirk’s death, stomping on his memorial, and leaving comments like “someone had to do it,” I simply cannot fathom how politically divided and apathetic our society has become. Kirk was not just a political activist; he was also a husband, a son, and a father to two. Yet, when political differences come into play, people dismiss these moral lines and condone an inexcusable act.
Seeing the hypocrisy embedded in this tragedy has also been appalling. Advocating for free speech while cheering on the murder of someone exercising that very right is a glaring contradiction. Claiming that people getting fired for supporting Kirk’s death is a violation of their First Amendment right is even more baffling, considering Kirk’s First Amendment right was violated in the most disturbing way possible. Similarly, alleging to oppose gun violence while supporting it when the victim is someone you don’t like exposes a dangerous double standard. Those who justify violence when it is convenient for them are part of the very hatred they claim to oppose.
If we do not come together as a society, put our political differences aside and recognize that tragedies like this are unacceptable, we will continue on this very dark path that is tearing our country apart and diluting free speech. In times like these, we must protect and value human life, red or blue, above ideology.
