Political Commentator, Activist, Podcaster Charlie Kirk Assassinated In Utah: Local, National Politicians Speak Out
The following politicians from across the aisle and across the country have reacted to the cold-blooded assassination of political commentator and podcaster Charlie Kirk at a college event in Utah by an assassin stationed on the roof close to the podium where Charlie was. Kirk was one of the founders of Turning Point USA, a voter education and outreach-focused charity that was just kicking off an around-the-country tour across college campuses, where Charlie was planning to debate college students about the hot-button issues of the day. Charlie Kirk was noted as being very influential in the MAGA movement, even being invited to speak with President Trump and JD Vance, both of whom he admired.
Below are outpourings of support and condolences for his young wife and two small children left behind in the wake of this senseless tragedy, as well as calls against political violence, from politicians on both sides of the aisle, including Staten Island’s BP Fossella, NYC Mayor Adams, mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa, President Trump, and Senator Sanders. Charlie Kirk was killed for expressing his political views, which may have been different from the views of the audiences he spoke with. This article has been updated to include Pop Leo’s condolences, below:
A Statement from Borough President Vito Fossella on the Tragic Shooting Death of Charlie Kirk
Staten Island, NY – Borough President Vito Fossella issued the following statement regarding the tragic shooting death of Charlie Kirk:
“Like so many across our nation, we were shocked and horrified by the murder of Charlie Kirk today. Charlie was a patriot. He inspired millions with his words, his convictions and his spirit of reaching out to share a national conversation about the future of America. While there is an ongoing investigation, it is clear that Charlie, a husband and father who never wished harm to anyone, was killed for expressing his political views. This is a tragic loss for our country. Our heart goes out to his wife and children and loved ones. May he long be remembered for the noble life he lived and all the people he touched.”
The following statement was released by Mayor Adams:
On the eve of 9/11, I’m thinking of the extremism that led to the mass murder of nearly 3,000 people, and how another form of extremism led to the assassination of Charlie Kirk today.
I swore to protect our country against all enemies—foreign and domestic—and I will never stop fighting extremism in all its forms.
And on Fox News, the mayor said the following:
Jones: Mr. Mayor, in light of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, for which many of us believe was because of his political ideology that some disagree with. And it manifested from their side in hating, killing him. What is your message to the country, as the mayor of the largest city in the country about this political hatred that’s going on in our country?
Mayor Adams: And I said it over and over again, when you saw the attempted life on the president, when you are watching an innocent man just based on his philosophy, 31 year-old, two children and a wife. When you watch in front of our eyes for him to be assassinated merely because of his beliefs, this is not the country we want to leave for our children.
We should not resolve our concerns with bullets. It should be with a ballot. It should be with debate, not destruction. But we have engulfed this belief by a small number of people who believe the only way to answer these questions is through violence. And we are witnessing it over and over again. Again, not only here on our soil, but across the globe.
But America must lead the way just as we did 2001, September 11th. We led the way of showing who we are as Americans. We must do that again. And when you see a destructive act like this to attack September 11th and the assassination of Charlie Kirk, when that bullet hits the body, the painful trajectory continues even through the anatomy of the city and the country. It’s the same here. We’re still seeing the residual impact of 9/11. We must never forget what it caused.
Mayoral Candidate Curtis Sliwa said:
“The shooting of Charlie Kirk is horrific, vile, and shows we must do better as a country in eradicating political violence. We will never progress as a country if we don’t engage in logical debates. Not vile violence. It’s on every single one of us to make sure we do what we can to protect each other. We are all Americans in the end,” Sliwa said.
When I was shot, I was lucky to survive. Seeing this is gut-wrenching. We need to pray that no one, regardless of their political background, is targeted by this again. We must do better.
Charlie Kirk is dead at just 31. A wife and two young kids are left behind. Unspeakably heartbreaking. Pray for his family.”
President Trump, who announced the death of Charlie Kirk publicly, said the following, and posted the below video to YouTube:
In Wake of Charlie Kirk Murder, Sanders Addresses Rising Political Violence in America
I want to say a few words regarding the terrible murder yesterday of Charlie Kirk — someone whom I strongly disagreed with on almost every issue but who was clearly a very smart and effective communicator and organizer — and someone unafraid to get out into the world and engage the public. My condolences go out to his wife and family.
A free and democratic society, which is what America is supposed to be about, depends upon the basic premise that people can speak out, organize, and take part in public life without fear — without worrying that they might be killed, injured, or humiliated for expressing their political views. In fact, that is the essence of what freedom is about and what democracy is about. You have a point of view, that’s great. I have a point of view that is different than yours, that’s great. Let’s argue it out. We make our case to the American people at the local, state, and federal level, and we hold free elections in which the people decide what they want. That’s called freedom and democracy. And I want as many people as possible to participate in that process without fear.
Freedom and democracy is not about political violence. It is not about assassinating public officials. It is not about trying to intimidate people who speak out on an issue. Political violence, in fact, is political cowardice. It means that you cannot convince people of the correctness of your ideas, and you have to impose them through force. Every American, no matter what one’s political point of view may be, must condemn all forms of political violence and all forms of intimidation. We must welcome and respect dissenting points of view. That’s what our Constitution is about. That’s what our Bill of Rights is about. That, in fact, is what freedom is about.
The murder of Charlie Kirk is part of a disturbing rise in political violence that threatens to hollow out public life and make people afraid of participating. From the January 6, 2021, attack on the United States Capitol, to the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, to the attack on Paul Pelosi, to the attempted kidnapping of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, to the murder of Minnesota Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman and her husband, to the arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, to the shooting of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson, and the shooting several years ago of Rep. Steve Scalise, this chilling rise in violence has targeted public figures across the political spectrum.
Sadly, this is not a new phenomenon. We all remember the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Senator Robert F. Kennedy, John Lennon, Medgar Evers, and the attempted assassinations of President Ronald Reagan and Alabama Governor George Wallace.
This is a difficult and contentious moment in American history. Democracy in our country and throughout the world is under attack. And there are a lot of reasons for that, which need serious discussion. But, bottom line: If we honestly believe in democracy, if we believe in freedom, all of us must be loud and clear. Political violence, regardless of ideology, is not the answer and must be condemned.
By Federal Bureau of Investigation Salt Lake City – Person of interest law enforcement is searching for in the shooting
From Relevant Radio’s reporting on the Pope’s homily: “The Holy Father also offered words of compassion regarding the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk. He expressed deep sorrow, assuring prayers for the repose of Kirk’s soul, for his wife Erika, and for their two young children. In this moment of tragedy, Pope Leo underlined the Church’s call to entrust the suffering to God’s mercy, holding fast to the hope that death never has the last word.”
And from the Holy See’s press office:
The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, responded to reporters’ questions on Tuesday about the Pope’s reaction to the murder of Charlie Kirk.
“I know that during the conversation with the new U.S. Ambassador, the Pope confirmed that he is praying for Charlie Kirk, his wife, and his children; that he expressed concern about political violence; and that he spoke of the need to refrain from rhetoric and instrumentalization that lead to polarization rather than dialogue,” said Mr Bruni.
Banner Image: By Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America – Charlie Kirk, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=154811520
Staten Islander News Service Staff Writer
This byline indicates that this article was penned by a member/members of the Staten Islander News Organization office team. Our staff writers are the backbone of our newspaper, performing all sorts of important tasks like conducting interviews, investigating leads, besides writing the news stories you see.
[…] note: Earlier today, we published statements and condolences from local and national politicians, all of whom believe that violence has no place in political […]