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Murder Of Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk Prompts Concern From

Bonisiwe Shabane
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murder of conservative activist charlie kirk prompts concern from

Arie Perliger, The Conversation Arie Perliger, The Conversation Alfonso Serrano, The Conversation Alfonso Serrano, The Conversation The fatal shooting of prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10, 2025, has brought renewed attention to the climate of political violence in America. Kirk’s death reflects a sizable increase in threats against officeholders and politicians at the local and federal level. Alfonso Serrano, a politics editor at The Conversation, spoke with University of Massachusetts Lowell scholar Arie Perliger after Kirk’s shooting.

Perliger studies political violence and assassinations and spoke bluntly about political polarization in the United States. ALFONSO SERRANO: What were your initial thoughts after Charlie Kirk’s fatal shooting? More than 6 in 10 registered voters said they think “extreme political rhetoric” was an important contributor to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk earlier this year — including majorities of Democrats, Republicans... The findings represent a grim milestone in America’s reckoning with growing political violence and its root causes. The survey marks the first time, across questions about five different violent incidents over 15 years of NBC News polling, that there has been cross-partisan agreement that rhetoric played an important role in an... Overall, 61% of respondents said they feel that “extreme political rhetoric used by some in the media and by political leaders was an important contributor” to Kirk’s killing.

Another 28% said they “feel more this is an incident caused by a disturbed person.” And 4% of those who participated in the poll volunteered, when presented with those two options, that they thought... Republicans blamed rhetoric by the widest margin, 73%-19%, but independents (53%-28%) and Democrats (54%-34%) were also much more likely to blame extreme political rhetoric as a factor than to discount it. 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. Kirk was shot and killed Wednesday during an event at Utah Valley University. Conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed on Wednesday, spoke in the spring at a public event in Phoenix, Arizona, about death threats he said had been directed at him and...

"Look, we get death threats -- people want to murder us," Kirk told an audience in May, who had gathered for the latest installment in a series of faith-based public events called "Freedom Night... "You should not have to walk around with security for your entire family and for myself just because you support a politician or political candidate or certain values," he said at the time. Kirk, who regularly debated controversial topics in front of crowds that sometimes included thousands of college students, compared the dangers of his line of work to those of a police officer or firefighter, saying,... Professor of English, Arizona State University Lee Bebout does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Arizona State University provides funding as a member of The Conversation US.

Shortly following the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, many politicians and pundits were quick to highlight the importance of civil discourse. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox called for an “off-ramp” to political hostilities, while California Gov. Gavin Newsom released a statement condemning political violence. He lauded Kirk’s “commitment to debate,” adding, “The best way to honor Charlie’s memory is to continue his work: engage with each other, across ideology, through spirited discourse.” Political commentator Ezra Klein wrote, “You... ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill.

— The murder of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk has left residents in his Illinois hometown grappling with concerns about the current state of political discourse in America. Previous Coverage: Who was Charlie Kirk? What we know about the conservative political influencer Kirk, 31, was raised in nearby Prospect Heights and attended Wheeling High School, maintaining deep ties throughout the Arlington Heights area where he was born. His death has prompted local officials and residents to condemn political violence and call for unity. Previous Coverage: Conservative activist Charlie Kirk dies in shooting at Utah Valley University

"This is not acceptable," said Patrick Bermudez, an Arlington Heights resident. On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk, an American right-wing political activist, was assassinated while addressing an audience on the campus of Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah, United States. The outdoor event was the first stop of the Fall 2025 season for the American Comeback Tour, a speaking and debate series planned by Turning Point USA, a conservative youth organization that he co-founded. Kirk was fatally shot in the neck while engaging with an audience member about mass shootings in the United States by a sniper on the roof of a building approximately 142 yards (130 m)... The next day, 22-year-old Tyler James Robinson surrendered himself to the local sheriff. Prosecutors charged Robinson with murder on September 16 and announced they would seek the death penalty, alleging the attack was politically motivated.[2][3][4]

The assassination was highlighted as an instance of increasing political violence within the United States and was condemned by national and foreign leaders. Video footage of the shooting spread rapidly on social media, and reactions ranged from heartfelt messages expressing anguish about the political climate to sharply partisan comments and celebrations of his death.[5][6][7] President Donald Trump,... The Trump administration called for a crackdown against what it called "political extremism" on the left,[10][11][12][13] which was widely criticized by free speech advocates and legal experts as using the assassination as a pretext... Charlie Kirk was an American right-wing political activist, author, and media personality, known for co-founding and serving as CEO of Turning Point USA.[17][18] A close ally of US president Donald Trump, Kirk utilized his... Two weeks before a potential government shutdown, House Republicans unveiled legislation to fund the government through Nov. 21.

Included in that proposal — $30 million for additional security. The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has got some federal lawmakers concerned about their own safety. Here's House Speaker Mike Johnson, who spoke to reporters on Tuesday. MIKE JOHNSON: The tragedy has also initiated a number of uncomfortable but necessary conversations about important issues, like the safety and security of our members and the responsibility of public servants. MARTÍNEZ: House Republicans are proposing $30 million for congressional safety as part of a GOP-led bill to fund the government and to avoid a shutdown. Here's NPR congressional correspondent Barbara Sprunt.

BARBARA SPRUNT, BYLINE: Safety concerns among lawmakers have long been growing, and the recent murder of Charlie Kirk, a friend and counselor to many Republicans on the Hill, has Congress reeling. Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who's running for governor in South Carolina, said she's making adjustments to her public schedule. The assassination of the influential conservative commentator Charlie Kirk on the campus of Utah Valley University Wednesday afternoon has ignited alarm nationwide, joining a string of recent high-profile acts of horrific public violence that... Kirk, 31, the charismatic founder of the right-leaning youth organization Turning Point USA and a longtime ally of President Donald Trump, was delivering a speech under a campus tent in Orem, Utah, when a... He collapsed, was rushed to a local hospital and later pronounced dead. As of Wednesday night, a manhunt remained in effect for the shooter after two prior persons of interest were briefly detained for questioning.

FBI Director Kash Patel had earlier called one of those people "the subject" in the shooting, but the person was later released without charges. Kirk, who had become nearly as influential in the president's orbit as he had been with young conservatives on campus, warned earlier this year about what he called an emerging "assassination culture" on the... In April, he cited polling by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) showing that a significant percentage of self-identified liberals viewed violence against public figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk as at least... "The political left is normalizing violence — and even political assassination — as a legitimate means of achieving its goals," Kirk posted on X. He accused Democratic leaders of remaining silent while inflammatory rhetoric escalated on social media and college campuses, where he often came to debate ideas and policies with other young people of all political stripes.

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Arie Perliger, The Conversation Arie Perliger, The Conversation Alfonso Serrano,

Arie Perliger, The Conversation Arie Perliger, The Conversation Alfonso Serrano, The Conversation Alfonso Serrano, The Conversation The fatal shooting of prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10, 2025, has brought renewed attention to the climate of political violence in America. Kirk’s death reflects a sizable increase in threats against officeholders and politicians at the local ...

Perliger Studies Political Violence And Assassinations And Spoke Bluntly About

Perliger studies political violence and assassinations and spoke bluntly about political polarization in the United States. ALFONSO SERRANO: What were your initial thoughts after Charlie Kirk’s fatal shooting? More than 6 in 10 registered voters said they think “extreme political rhetoric” was an important contributor to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk earlier this year — includi...

Another 28% Said They “feel More This Is An Incident

Another 28% said they “feel more this is an incident caused by a disturbed person.” And 4% of those who participated in the poll volunteered, when presented with those two options, that they thought... Republicans blamed rhetoric by the widest margin, 73%-19%, but independents (53%-28%) and Democrats (54%-34%) were also much more likely to blame extreme political rhetoric as a factor than to disco...

White House Officials Had Huddled Earlier In The Afternoon As

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-staf...

"Look, We Get Death Threats -- People Want To Murder

"Look, we get death threats -- people want to murder us," Kirk told an audience in May, who had gathered for the latest installment in a series of faith-based public events called "Freedom Night... "You should not have to walk around with security for your entire family and for myself just because you support a politician or political candidate or certain values," he said at the time. Kirk, who re...