Charlie Kirk, just 31 years old, was gunned down while doing what he loved most—engaging with young Americans at Utah Valley University. The founder of Turning Point USA leaves behind his wife Erika and two young children, a legacy of faith and patriotism, and millions of young conservatives he inspired to speak boldly in an increasingly hostile climate. For those of us who followed his work closely, including myself and the Steadfast & Loyal team, this is not just a political loss—it is personal.
Condolences from Steadfast & Loyal
On behalf of Steadfast & Loyal and myself, Jimmy Parker, I want to extend my deepest condolences to Erika Kirk, their children, and the Turning Point USA family. Charlie was more than a political activist—he was a husband, a father, a man of deep faith. His voice will be missed in our movement, but his courage and conviction will not be forgotten. He inspired me personally, and I followed his journey closely. Today, our prayers are with his family, and we grieve with all Americans who believe in free speech, debate, and the right to live without fear of political violence.
The Left’s Immediate Smear Campaign
Even before his body was cold, voices on the Left wasted no time framing Charlie as “divisive” and a “peddler of hate speech.” MSNBC analyst Matthew Dowd suggested Kirk’s rhetoric somehow laid the groundwork for his own assassination. The Guardian and Occupy Democrats echoed the same narrative—painting him as the villain instead of the victim. This is the disgusting reality of our media culture: when conservatives are murdered, the first instinct of the Left is not compassion, but condemnation.
AOC Turns Tragedy into a Talking Point
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez couldn’t resist sliding into the familiar Democrat playbook—using Charlie’s death to demand stricter gun laws. Once again, instead of mourning a murdered American, she weaponized the tragedy to push the Left’s long-standing agenda. It’s a pattern we know too well: when violence strikes, Democrats don’t grieve, they legislate. They never miss an opportunity to politicize bloodshed, especially when the victim is conservative.
The Double Standard in Political Violence
Imagine if the roles were reversed. If a progressive activist had been assassinated on stage, the media would be in 24/7 meltdown mode. There would be candlelight vigils broadcast live, blue-ribbon commissions, and endless discussions of “threats to democracy.” But when a conservative like Charlie Kirk is targeted, the coverage comes with caveats and blame-shifting. Suddenly the conversation is about his words, his style, and his supposed divisiveness. This is not just hypocrisy—it’s moral rot.
Years of Demonization Paved the Way
For nearly a decade, Charlie Kirk has been compared to Nazis, fascists, and criminals by mainstream outlets. His speeches on college campuses were treated as dangerous, his podcasts dismissed as propaganda, his very presence described as a threat. That drumbeat of dehumanization matters. When you tell the public day after day that someone is evil, fascist, and dangerous, you shouldn’t be surprised when deranged people decide to take matters into their own hands. The Left’s rhetoric created the toxic climate that made this assassination possible.
The Dangerous Game of “Hate Speech” Policing
The MSNBC transcript that surfaced after the assassination said it all: “hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.” That narrative isn’t just wrong—it’s dangerous. It flips reality on its head. The shooter is to blame, not the victim. But by implying that Charlie Kirk’s words invited the bullet, the Left sets a chilling precedent: disagreeing with progressive orthodoxy is not only wrong—it’s dangerous, even punishable by death. This is a roadmap for silencing dissent.
Conservatives Under Siege
Charlie’s murder is not an isolated event. Conservatives have faced a wave of violence, from assassination attempts against Donald Trump to threats against judges, ICE agents, and pro-life activists. Yet every time, the media bends over backward to shift the narrative away from sympathy and toward blame. It is conservatives who must “tone down the rhetoric,” never the Left. It is conservatives who must apologize for existing, while radicals who harass, threaten, and even kill are explained away as victims of circumstance.
A Martyr for Faith and Freedom
Charlie Kirk often said he wanted to be remembered for his courage and his faith. In one of his final viral clips, he said plainly: “I want to be remembered for courage for my faith.” That is exactly how history will remember him. He died doing what he believed in—speaking truth to young Americans, defending liberty, and standing firm for the values of God, family, and country. His legacy is not division. His legacy is conviction.
Final Thoughts
Charlie Kirk’s assassination is a tragedy for his family, his movement, and the nation. But it is also a mirror exposing the sickness in our culture. The Left never misses a chance to turn tragedy into a talking point, never hesitates to smear the conservative dead as villains, and never takes responsibility for the toxic climate they have created. This moment demands that we not only grieve, but also fight—fight against political violence, against the double standards, and against a media machine that treats conservatives as expendable. Charlie Kirk deserves better. America deserves better.
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JIMMY
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h/t: Steadfast and Loyal
