The conservative commentator’s killing on a Utah campus shocks the nation.
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The Assasination of Charlie Kirk |
The conservative commentator’s killing on a Utah campus shocks the nation. |
Phill Magakoe/AFP via Getty Images |
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| Jasper Fakkert
Editor-in-Chief |
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The nation this week was shocked by the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. Known for his debates on college campuses and large-scale events with his organization Turning Point USA, Kirk spread his message of faith, freedom, and traditional values to millions, mostly students.
A single gunshot fired on Sept. 10 changed this. Kirk, 31, was killed, leaving behind his wife and two young children. A murder suspect, Tyler Robinson, has now been arrested.
In this email, you will find an overview of Epoch Times coverage on the assassination of Kirk, the impact he’s had on people’s lives, and everything we know so far about how the assassination unfolded. |
Samuel Corum/Getty Images |
The Sept. 10 death of Charlie Kirk—the highest-profile American political figure to be assassinated in nearly six decades—represents a tipping point for the nation, legal scholars and others told The Epoch Times. How leaders and the populace react to it could determine whether the tide of political violence continues to rise—or recedes.
The 31-year-old father of two was fatally shot in the neck as he spoke on a Utah college campus. As of Sept. 11, the gunman remained unidentified and on the loose; police detained two people but released both after questioning.
Susan MacManus, a Florida political scholar for a half-century, said Kirk’s slaying could spark important changes.“But is it going to be a catalyst for the two parties coming together and saying, ‘Enough of this?’” she asked. “Or is it just going to be a catalyst for even further deepening the polarization in this country?”
She worries that it could be the latter, given that “right now, the two words that are most missing in our politics are ‘civility’ and ‘compromise.’” MacManus told The Epoch Times that she sees another contributing factor: Americans are awash in a culture of violence, ranging from images in movies and news reports to video games “where you win if you ‘kill’ people.”
When Kirk was gunned down, he was answering an attendee’s question about transgender suspects committing mass shootings. Any possible significance of that timing remains unknown, along with the gunman’s motive. In addition, Kirk had posted on social media earlier this year that he was concerned about studies showing the glorification of “assassination culture” in America.
Many people, including Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, have labeled Kirk’s death as a “political assassination.” (More) |
- Charlie Kirk’s wife, Erika, addressed the public for the first time on Friday since her husband’s assassination two days prior.
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Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has cautioned that Chinese and Russian bots are generating and spreading misleading content online to “encourage violence” in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
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Bullet casings collected from the weapon allegedly used in the assassination of Charlie Kirk had messages engraved on them, authorities say, including anti-fascist viewpoints and apparent references to taunting internet memes.
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Charlie Kirk leaves behind big shoes to fill and a hard path ahead, those he inspired say, a legacy that will challenge them in making his life and his shocking death an enduring legacy where civil debate and discourse, not violence, define the democracy they love.
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Political leaders across the United States condemned the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who was killed at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10.
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Explainer: What to Know About Charlie Kirk’s Suspected Assassin
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Conservative influencer Charlie Kirk was killed by a single gunshot at a crowded event at a Utah college on Sept. 10. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox described the act as a “political assassination.” Authorities announced the arrest of 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, the suspected assassin, during a press conference on Sept. 12. Here’s what we know about the shooting and the aftermath so far. |
Illustration by The Epoch Times, Google Earth |
Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, in the first campus event of TPUSA’s American Comeback tour. By noon, an estimated 3,000 students had gathered around his tent, which displayed his challenge to the students “prove me wrong.”
Six university police officers were on duty at the event, along with Kirk’s own private security team, according to authorities. Kirk began fielding the second question of the day. “Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?” a man in the crowd asked Kirk. “Counting or not counting gang violence?” Kirk replied. It was about 12:20 p.m. local time.
One shot was fired. Graphic video footage taken by spectators showed the bullet pierce the left side of Kirk’s neck. (More) |
- Florida to Investigate Teachers Found Celebrating Charlie Kirk’s Assassination
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GOP Lawmakers Demand Inquiry Into ‘Radical Left’ Networks Following Kirk’s Assassination
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Secret Service Agent Placed on Leave Over Post About Charlie Kirk
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Discord Says Alleged Shooter’s Account Was Removed
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Suspect Faces Multiple Charges
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Pentagon Announces ‘Zero Tolerance’ for Military Personnel Celebrating Charlie Kirk Assassination
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Suspect Briefly Attended Utah State University
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Robinson Believed to Have Acted Alone, Say Authorities
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Utah Gov Says Alleged Shooter Changed Clothes While on the Roof
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Charging Documents Expected ‘Early Next Week’: Cox
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America Lost a Great Champion in Charlie Kirk—by Armstrong Williams (Read)
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Charlie Kirk’s Enduring Legacy Lives On—by Barry W. Bussey (Read)
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