What the Murder of Charlie Kirk Reveals About Our American Crisis
If we don’t learn to heal and stand together, our democracy won’t survive
Charlie Kirk was, coincidentally enough, discussing mass shootings with an audience at Utah Valley University when he was shot and killed. As of this writing the shooter is still at large. What happened is subject to change, but one thing is certain — we have serious problems in America.
And the truth is that political violence has been wielded by extremists on both sides of the aisle. It’s destroying us.
If you listen to many Republicans, Democrats are to blame. The “Luigi Left” celebrates violence when it serves their ends, according to many Republicans. Quite a few on X even called for “war” in the wake of the Kirk killing.
But this ignores the reality that many Republicans have promoted, excused, or ignored political violence. From January 6th and Paul Pelosi being ambushed in his own home by a far right extremist (whom Elon Musk baselessly speculated was his lover) to Minnesota Democrats being targeted and assassinated by a Trump supporter just 12 weeks ago, there’s plenty of political violence on the right.
The cherry-picking and politicizing of death needs to stop. Excusing or ignoring political violence when it suits your ends, but condemning it when it doesn’t isn’t just morally inconsistent. It’s when everything in America disintegrates.
Legitimizing or excusing any form of political violence in any way rips the rug out from American democracy. It breaks through the floor.
It’s the moment we cease to be a nation of laws and instead become a nation of men. It’s the second someone feels empowered to take laws into their own hands. It’s the minute random acts of violence become a feature of our democracy, not a bug.
Blaming the other side will only accelerate this outcome. And get ready, because Republicans have already organized on social media to martyr Charlie Kirk and blame liberal extremism for his death.
President Trump published a video on X blaming the “radical left” before he even knows anything about the shooter. Not only do we lack motive, we don’t even have a suspect under arrest (FBI Director Kash Patel keeps releasing suspects from custody).
Blame-casting won’t bring back Charlie Kirk or Melissa Hortman, the former Minnesota House Speaker, and her husband. Our own President may want to divide us and paint political violence as one party’s problem. But I have something radical to propose — ignore him.
Ignore the pundits and social media megaphones who are calling for war. Ignore the hate, divisiveness, and extreme partisanship in this moment.
Condemn all political violence instead. Even if you vehemently disagreed with Charlie Kirk like I did. I always thought he argued in bad faith with “facts” that only supported his agenda. I thought he was a fountain of misinformation. But none of that matters right now.
What’s most important is seeing above the muddy fray on social media and in American life right now. Don’t fall for provocations of war declarations and incendiary comments about one political party.
Demand decency instead. Ask people who want to bring you into the mud what type of country they want. Do they still value democracy in America in 2025? Do they like the rule of law? Do they want to protect each and every human life, even when others don’t?
It’s dangerously easy at this moment to respond aggressively. Especially when the President himself is pouring gasoline on a raging fire by blaming half the country despite not having a suspect under arrest.
Don’t let that incite you. Express condolences for Charlie Kirk and his family. Call for unity, as the Young Democrats and Young Republicans of Connecticut have done.
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But don’t let this stop you from calling balls and strikes. Or calling a spade a spade. If Trump acts like an authoritarian, we shouldn’t be scared to call him on it. Just as we shouldn’t fear criticizing the left when they go off the rails.
And if America turns into a system of state capitalism, we should critique it.
Many on the right will try to use this opportunity to silence dissent. They will argue that extremist rhetoric killed Charlie Kirk.
But while we should always be measured and objective as possible in our commentary, we should never be afraid to express it. That is a fundamental right in a free society.
It is also fundamental to freely participate in society without fear of violence. The violence against Charlie Kirk, Minnesota Democrats, Paul Pelosi, U.S. Capitol police on January 6th, and President Trump himself are not attacks against any one of those individuals.
They are attacks against all of us. They endanger our democracy. They threaten our free society.
So before you wade into the fray with someone, whether in real life or online, ask yourself — how am I promoting what I value? Are my statements or actions filled with humanity and decency? Could I exercise a little more grace?
We need unifiers in this American moment. Or we risk losing the country we claim to cherish.
Note: I recently created a separate Instagram for PolisPandit where you can find many of my essays here in short form video (along with TikTok and YouTube). Would love for you to follow me there!
I agree with you completely. These extremists on both sides are tearing us apart. And you're right, we don't know who the shooter is and speculating on it as the President is doing is dangerous.