University of Kwazulu-Natal

How Charlie Kirk S Death Will Change His Message The Atlantic

Bonisiwe Shabane
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how charlie kirk s death will change his message the atlantic

For a case study in how martyrdom can transform a firebrand, look to Malcolm X. As the leader of a young conservative political movement that helped Donald Trump win a second presidential term, Charlie Kirk accomplished a lot in his too-short life. But at Kirk’s packed memorial in Arizona last weekend, his admirers proclaimed that the slain activist now stands to become something even more powerful and potentially lasting: a martyr. A premature and violent death can turn a controversial individual into an object of sympathy and a symbol of a larger movement—one that gains attention with every new headline and eulogy. By evoking both curiosity and compassion, martyrdom can make a polarizing public figure more influential in death than they were in life. To see how such a process can take place, consider the example of Malcolm X, another firebrand who was gunned down while addressing followers, in his case in a packed ballroom in Upper Manhattan...

In a turbulent decade marred by murderous attacks on powerful men, Malcolm X was one victim among many. But in the decades since, his legacy has only grown—and despite the differences between the two men, that evolution offers some insight into what might become of Kirk’s. Isaac Stanley-Becker: What Charlie Kirk told me about his legacy Charlie Kirk, the right-wing political activist who co-founded the conservative student organization Turning Point USA in 2012, spent more than a decade building influence among young Americans before his life was cut short. As executive director of Turning Point USA, Kirk became a prominent voice in conservative politics, particularly among college students and younger generations seeking to engage with right-leaning ideas. Increasingly, his message centered on the role of faith in public life and the call to live according to Christian principles.

His assassination at an outdoor rally on September 10, 2025, shocked the nation and sparked immediate questions about the intersection of politics, free speech, political violence, and faith in American public life. Now, a new Barna survey shows that Kirk’s death has prompted nearly three in ten Americans to take some form of action—with spiritual responses far outpacing political ones. The results align with broader trends Barna has tracked this year showing growing spiritual openness among Americans, particularly younger generations. Barna surveyed 5,003 U.S. adults roughly two months after Kirk’s death. While most Americans were familiar with Kirk before his passing, the data reveals his killing has sparked a wave of reflection and action, particularly among the younger generations he had worked to reach and...

The survey found that more than eight out of ten Americans knew of Charlie Kirk before his death, with 15 percent saying they followed him very closely. Overall, just one-third of Americans said they followed Kirk very or somewhat closely. The survey showed that younger generations were more familiar with Charlie Kirk. Among Gen Z, 40 percent reported following Kirk very or somewhat closely before his death, with Millennials showing similar engagement at 41 percent. Practicing Christians across all age groups also showed the highest engagement, with 47 percent following his work. WASHINGTON — Top Republicans and Democrats largely coalesced to mourn conservative activist Charlie Kirk and condemn politically motivated violence after he was shot and killed Wednesday at a Turning Point USA event at Utah...

Calling Kirk “great, and even legendary,” President Donald Trump announced his death on Truth Social on Wednesday afternoon. “No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie,” Trump wrote. “He was loved and admired by ALL.” White House officials had huddled earlier in the afternoon as they tried to obtain more information on the shooting and Kirk’s condition, a sense of shock permeating a building where Kirk, 31, was well-respected... At least one expletive could be heard as officials shut the door to the room where they gathered. After Kirk’s death was announced, flags above the White House were lowered to half-staff.

Eric Trump, the president’s son, also said flags would be flown at half-staff at all Trump properties. Since 1857, The Atlantic has been challenging assumptions and pursuing truth. As the leader of a young conservative political movement that helped Donald Trump win a second presidential term, Charlie Kirk accomplished a lot in his too-short life. But at Kirk’s packed memorial in Arizona last weekend, his admirers proclaimed that the slain activist now stands to become something even more powerful and potentially lasting: a martyr. A premature and violent death can turn a controversial individual into an object of sympathy and a symbol of a larger movement—one that gains attention with every new headline and eulogy. By evoking both curiosity and compassion, martyrdom can make a polarizing public figure more influential in death than they were in life.

To see how such a process can take place, consider the example of Malcolm X, another firebrand who was gunned down while addressing followers, in his case in a packed ballroom in Upper Manhattan... In a turbulent decade marred by murderous attacks on powerful men, Malcolm X was one victim among many. But in the decades since, his legacy has only grown—and despite the differences between the two men, that evolution offers some insight into what might become of Kirk’s. [Isaac Stanley-Becker: What Charlie Kirk told me about his legacy] MAGA is embracing the language of a rising Christian movement. In the two weeks since Charlie Kirk’s killing, Trump-administration officials and allies have not only promised a sweeping crackdown on liberal groups.

They have marshaled the language of a rising charismatic Christian movement to describe their political agenda as a cosmic battle against the forces of evil. At Kirk’s memorial service on Sunday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the moment at hand as “not a political war” and “not even a cultural war—it’s a spiritual war.” The right-wing influencer Benny Johnson... God has given them power over our nation and our land,” he told the crowd of roughly 70,000 people at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. “May we pray that our rulers here—rightfully instituted and given power by our God—wield the sword for the terror of evil men in our nation.” Holding up a rosary, the far-right activist Jack Posobiec... Then put on the full armor of God. Do it now.

Now is the time. This is the place.” The exception was Kirk’s widow, Erika, who said that she forgave Kirk’s killer because “it is what Christ did, and is what Charlie would do,” and that “the answer to hate is not hate.”... From the February 2025 issue: The army of God comes out of the shadows The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has shaken his young supporters, but also strengthened their resolve to power a new wave of student activism, according to those who spoke to The Post. For many in Gen Z, Kirk was more than a political figure.

They credit him with making conservatism relevant, acceptable, interesting and “cool” to their generation by engaging in respectful debates with people — whether they agreed with him or not. Here they describe how Kirk affected them: “Charlie Kirk was the embodiment of the First Amendment,” said JT Marshburn, who is chairman of his College Republican National Committee. “He stood up for what we believe in as conservatives, and ultimately he was assassinated doing what he loved — sticking up for what’s right and expanding free speech on campuses.” America’s list of victims of political violence is distressingly long and features figures from both the right and left. The panel discusses this week’s assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, its fallout and the role of social media in a culture of escalating violence.

Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. Jeffrey Goldberg: Officials in Utah announced earlier today that a suspect in the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a 22-year-old named Tyler Robinson, has been arrested. There's a great deal of speculation about his motives. We will try to be responsible here about not overspeculating, given the paucity of details so far. But what I can say with certainty is that America has a serious problem with political violence.

The list of its victims or would-be victims is distressingly long and features figures from both the right and left, from Donald Trump and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro,... Joining me tonight to discuss the Kirk assassination and its fallout, Peter Baker, the chief White House correspondent at The New York Times, Laura Barron-Lopez is a White House correspondent for MSNBC, Susan Glasser... Thank you all for joining me. Pretty bleak week, like I said. Let's start at the beginning. Peter, and I want everybody to jump in this, let's talk a little bit about Charlie Kirk, who he was and what role he played in the broader Republican ecosystem and the broader political...

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