By now, you have almost certainly heard the disturbing news: Right-wing influencer and Trump ally Charlie Kirk was shot and killed yesterday in Utah while speaking to college students. The shooter remains at large.
Kirk, 31, was the founder of Turning Point USA, an organization that encouraged young people to get involved in right-wing politics. He was married with two children.
Kirk's killing comes as the latest chapter in a horrific trend of rising political violence in our country. This violence has proved to stubbornly transcend partisan divides, targeting officials and public figures on both the right and the left. Alarmingly, though, some of the rhetoric we have seen in the aftermath of Kirk's killing from some far-right influencers—and even from President Donald Trump himself—has falsely implied that this violence only flows one way: from people on the left, and toward conservatives. My colleagues Anna Merlan and Kiera Butler and I laid it all out in a piece we published last night.
Let's be clear: The shooter has not been identified or detained, meaning any motivation remains speculative. Beyond that, it seems absurd, counterproductive, and just plain sad that some people's first instinct in the aftermath of such a tragedy is to try to blame their political opponents.
And as my colleague David Corn writes, we can condemn this heinous assassination and empathize with Kirk's wife and kids while also being honest about the views he held:
Kirk did enjoy debating others. He visited campuses and held events in which he took on all comers, arguing over a variety of contentious issues. He was a showman, and his commitment to verbal duking was admirable. He appeared proud of the harsh opinions he robustly shared. Which means there’s no reason now to be shy about them while pondering his legacy.
Moreover, as a movement strategist, he relied upon and advanced lies and bigotry—including falsehoods that fueled violence and an assault on our national foundation. That was not a side gig for Kirk. It was a core component of his organizing. He did not practice politics the right way. He used deceit to develop his movement and to weaken the United States. His assassination is heinous and frightening and warrants widespread condemnation. It should prompt reflection on what is happening within the nation and what needs to be done to prevent further political violence. It should not protect him or others who engage in such politics of extremism from critical review.
I hope you'll take a deep breath and give it a read.
—Julianne McShane
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