Recommendations of the Editorial team
The discussion about the murder of the right activist and trump allied Charlie Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday is heated. The viral video that the 31-year-old-husband and father of two small children-shows how he is fatally hit on the neck, has fueled the emotions. Since there is no arrested suspect, wild political motives are discussed. Celebrities from the Maga movement use Kirk’s death to call a “civil war” against the left. Republicans – and also some Democrats – mourn him as a martyr of the American values of debate and citizenship. While critics classified him as a split and extreme.
“Free Speech” and hard punishments
Some of these critics have already felt consequences. Matthew Dowd, political analyst at MSNBC, lost his job after comments about Kirk immediately after the shots. Even before his death was confirmed. Dowd said in the broadcaster that Kirk had “constantly hate speech against certain groups”. “Hasser -filled thoughts lead to hater -filled words. The acts that are in turn lead to hateful acts. And we live in such an environment.” MSNBC then ended the collaboration. Dowd apologized to Bluesky, while MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler said: “Matthew Dowd’s comments were inappropriate. Insensitive. And unacceptable. We apologize.” (DowD also lost a university engagement.)
Ironically, Kirk had always claimed the ultimate defense lawyer of freedom of speech with Turning Point USA. In a debate in June at the Oxford Union, he called the British society “totalitarian”. “You should also be allowed to say tremendous.” In 2024 he wrote on X: “Hass speech does not exist legally in America. There are ugly, rough, evil speech. And all of this is protected by the first constitutional additive.”
But his followers reacted completely differently after his death. Right social media figures such as Laura Loomer, Enrique Tarrio, “Catturd” and Chaya Raichik (Libsoftikok) specifically search for people who described Kirk as ideologues or commented on his murder. An anonymous website called “Charlie’s Murderers” even publishes personal data such as employers. A university administrator already lost her job. Others received death threats.
Charlie Rock, PR coordinator of the Carolina Panthers, alluded to Kirk’s earlier statement that “unfortunately you have to accept a few weapon deaths a year to protect the constitution”. On Instagram he wrote: “Why are you sad? Your man said it was worth it.” The Panthers then released him and emphasized: “We do not tolerate violence. We take it very seriously.”
Leastings at universities and schools
Many of Kirk’s statements are now being re-evaluated: he demanded an immigration stop, spread the “Great Replacement” theory, also spoke out against abortion when rape, explained that “Islam was not compatible with the West”, and distributed incorrect information on Covid-19. He also joined Christian nationalism without the separation of the church and the state.
Especially at universities, where Kirk often provoked, lecturers are now flying out for their statements. Laura Sosh-Lighttsy, for over 20 years at Middle Tennessee State University, was released after she wrote on Facebook that she had “zero pity” and he “sealed his fate himself”. Senator Marsha Blackburn had asked for her release. The University of Mississippi also dismissed an employee who had called Kirk as a white suprematist.
Hypocrisy of the “Cancel Culture” critic
In Florida, a primary school teacher was suspended after she wrote on Facebook: “This may not be the obituary we all hoped for, but it comes very close.” Education chief Anastasios Kamoutsa’s teacher warned that such statements would be monitored. Two teachers in Massachusetts and a educator in Virginia were suspended, and an examination is underway in Oklahoma.
The demands for layoffs are in clear contradiction to Kirk’s alleged ideals of freedom of expression. Of all things, those Maga circles that have been defending their “right” on insulting and threatening statements and spreading conspiracy theories now show zero tolerance when critics express their contempt for a killed right hero. The double morality is obvious – and at the same time expected.