Influential anti-LGBTQ+ activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated on Wednesday. While condemning violence is something most can get behind, sanitization of his hate has gone too far.
He was a vile individual with repulsive ideas who didn’t deserve to be shot or to die. He also in no way should be made into a hero or a martyr, and doing so only demonstrates the hypocrisy of America.
We can condemn political violence while also being pleased that a cruel and spiteful Javert of our time can no longer do his thing.
Here's my tribute to Charlie: He was supremely talented as a propagandist, able to modulate his tone and temperament for the audience before him. He could throw the red meat for his lunatic base supporters, and he could also present himself as "reasonable" to moderates and liberals wavering on issues of fundamental human rights. He was a genius of communications and also had a talent for organization.
But let's be clear: He practiced a dark art for evil ends. He was picked out at a young age by billionaire plutocrats to be their human face, and he happily obliged, handsomely profiting himself in the process.
We are better off - dare I say, the world is better off - without him doing the work he so passionately pursued. I would say the same thing had he retired or been felled by a sickness of an accident: Good riddance.
Bill Montgomery, a marketing executive and Tea Party activist, was Kirk's mentor. He and others wanted a millennial alternative to Occupy, which was still very much a "thing" back in 2012.
That same year, Kirk met Foster Friess, a major Republican donor who would become a driving force behind TPUSA.
Despite its growing popularity among some groups, TPUSA remains overwhelmingly funded by wealthy business owners and elites.
To be clear, Democrats do the same shit. I'm not saying Charlie is unique in this regard - on the contrary, it's systemic.
I think the Tea Party was always at least partially motivated by a core cultural conservatism. You think all those retirees in the Midwest were really putting all that energy into a movement so that the programs they depended upon could be demolished? Nah, it was always about a backlash to a black president, to cultural liberalism, to greater lgbtq+ acceptance, etc. I think businessmen with more quotidian fiscal interests hijacked the rage of those elderly midwesterners to advance an agenda that would lower their taxes and free them from regulation.
Something tells me that Montgomery, who stayed on TPUSA’s board until 2019, did not regret what he had unleashed.
It sickens me that Gavin Newsom, or any other people that should be allies, would dare to say that we should continue the work of Charlie Kirk. Your article is excellent. I condemn violence, it is a reflection of the sickness of our society. But anyone who says his work was anything to be proud of or continue, is either part of this dangerous belief system or willfully using this assassination for political advantage (looking at you Newsom). And also, the very first thought I had when I found out he was killed was this: Please don't let it be true (or claimed to be true) that the shooter was trans.
I have always found him slimy and untrustworthy. I'm proud to say that I never sent him one penny of my hard earned dollars ~ but I have given him my two cents in how he practices his politics!
It's a horrible thing that he was murdered. I feel for his child, I feel for the students of UVU, I feel for the people in that crowd. I hope his murderer faces appropriate justice with due process.
But you have a very good point. Are we really going to honor this man as a paragon of political discourse because he held open mic debates? He was a content creator, an influencer. He orchestrated situations in which he used practiced debate tactics against inexperienced students. He led a company which routinely dismissed the rights, equality and humanity of others with less power than him.
We're seeing the formation of Charlie Kirk the myth right now, but let's not be mistaken: Charlie Kirk the man was a bully.
I honestly think that MSNBC commentator put it well in the comment that got him fired. Kirk cultivated hate. He contributed to this climate of violence and intolerance more so than most. It was an unfortunate, hateful end to a life of hate and no one is better off for it all.
I was so excited, waiting for your words on this subject. Per usual, you knocked it out of the park. Proud to support you as a spokesperson for our community. Much love to you and your wife. ❤️💪💕🏳️⚧️
Please Erin, I swear to god, don’t tell me this is the mainstream liberal take. I cannot live in a world where flipping CHARLIE KIRK is a model citizen even for our “allies”. 😣
It would serve our allies well to recognize and remember that words can be violence, too. Charlie Kirk only play-acted honest, open debate -- he invited people to express opposing views so he could bully and belittle them with his hate and rhetoric. To think differently is a level of naivety and delusion that is beyond shameful for someone like Ezra Klein (and not at all surprising of someone as opportunistically pandering as Newsom). The attempted spin on this event sickens me even more than crime.
Thanks for writing that. I don't want to live in a world where Charlie Kirk calls for my death. I also don't want to live in a world where we're shooting each other in the streets. I really just wish we'd never walked this road
Thank You, Erin. When even Nancy Pelosi joined the mourners, I couldn't wait for your voice of Truth and Reason to clear the air. I only wish yours was the majority of news media opinion. Charlie Kirk died by his beliefs, being one of those sacrificed to gun violence in a school, rather than see laws put in place to protect those on campuses. I only wish the Hate he spread died with him. We should broadcast you piece on him more widely.
The piece of toilet paper otherwise known as the New York Times saw fit to publish this quote from professional bigot and scumbag Terry Schilling: "I'm racking my brain trying to think of another political figure that had a similar impact and following who was assassinated, and the only person I can think of is Martin Luther King Jr.” What went down yesterday was an appalling act of violence. But invoking MLK? MLK was everything Kirk was not. And there is no excuse for publishing a quote like that and giving it currency.
Gun violence is reprehensible and repugnant and needs to stop. There are always so many effects of gun violence on others. It’s never just about the victim. Bereaved spouses, kids, friends. The cost of gun violence in the U.S. is astronomical. Other countries have done a much better job than we have of combating it.
The culture around handguns and other weapons of violence disturbs me, I'm not against the right to defend oneself, but we have to acknowledge how out of control the situation is.
Erin, Thank you so much for such a rational, reasonable, ethically informed and well articulated piece of journalism. I wish this could be required reading for so many people who really need this perspective but are unlikely to see it.
I will not allow any comments here praising or glorifying Charlie Kirk's death. If you do so, it is clear that you did not read my piece.
He was a vile individual with repulsive ideas.
He was a vile individual with repulsive ideas who didn’t deserve to be shot or to die. He also in no way should be made into a hero or a martyr, and doing so only demonstrates the hypocrisy of America.
Your comment is right on point.
I wrote a letter to the editor of The Santa Clatita Signal, basing it on the information I gleaned from your article. Thank you for the work you do.
My letter: https://signalscv.com/2025/09/autumn-sandeen-it-was-technically-true-but/
Original editorial: https://signalscv.com/2025/09/our-view-are-we-seeing-the-death-of-civil-discourse/
Can always count on Erin to put into words what we're all thinking.
We can condemn political violence while also being pleased that a cruel and spiteful Javert of our time can no longer do his thing.
Here's my tribute to Charlie: He was supremely talented as a propagandist, able to modulate his tone and temperament for the audience before him. He could throw the red meat for his lunatic base supporters, and he could also present himself as "reasonable" to moderates and liberals wavering on issues of fundamental human rights. He was a genius of communications and also had a talent for organization.
But let's be clear: He practiced a dark art for evil ends. He was picked out at a young age by billionaire plutocrats to be their human face, and he happily obliged, handsomely profiting himself in the process.
We are better off - dare I say, the world is better off - without him doing the work he so passionately pursued. I would say the same thing had he retired or been felled by a sickness of an accident: Good riddance.
Now, God help us.
"He was picked out at a young age by billionaire plutocrats to be their human face"
Info on that, pls?
Bill Montgomery, a marketing executive and Tea Party activist, was Kirk's mentor. He and others wanted a millennial alternative to Occupy, which was still very much a "thing" back in 2012.
That same year, Kirk met Foster Friess, a major Republican donor who would become a driving force behind TPUSA.
Despite its growing popularity among some groups, TPUSA remains overwhelmingly funded by wealthy business owners and elites.
To be clear, Democrats do the same shit. I'm not saying Charlie is unique in this regard - on the contrary, it's systemic.
Thank you. The Tea Party was not notably Social Conservative, I wonder if Montgomery later regretted his fostering Kirk?
I think the Tea Party was always at least partially motivated by a core cultural conservatism. You think all those retirees in the Midwest were really putting all that energy into a movement so that the programs they depended upon could be demolished? Nah, it was always about a backlash to a black president, to cultural liberalism, to greater lgbtq+ acceptance, etc. I think businessmen with more quotidian fiscal interests hijacked the rage of those elderly midwesterners to advance an agenda that would lower their taxes and free them from regulation.
Something tells me that Montgomery, who stayed on TPUSA’s board until 2019, did not regret what he had unleashed.
Well said!
I'm really hoping you'll submit this to the NYT and other broader sources as an Op/Ed piece. It's beautifully written and such an important message.
It sickens me that Gavin Newsom, or any other people that should be allies, would dare to say that we should continue the work of Charlie Kirk. Your article is excellent. I condemn violence, it is a reflection of the sickness of our society. But anyone who says his work was anything to be proud of or continue, is either part of this dangerous belief system or willfully using this assassination for political advantage (looking at you Newsom). And also, the very first thought I had when I found out he was killed was this: Please don't let it be true (or claimed to be true) that the shooter was trans.
I have always found him slimy and untrustworthy. I'm proud to say that I never sent him one penny of my hard earned dollars ~ but I have given him my two cents in how he practices his politics!
Although his trolling is masterful, we can never trust Gavin Newsom and I pray that he never attains more power than he already has.
This is why I don't trust Gavin Newsome. He gives off serious vibes that he is simply a different side of the same evil coin.
It's a horrible thing that he was murdered. I feel for his child, I feel for the students of UVU, I feel for the people in that crowd. I hope his murderer faces appropriate justice with due process.
But you have a very good point. Are we really going to honor this man as a paragon of political discourse because he held open mic debates? He was a content creator, an influencer. He orchestrated situations in which he used practiced debate tactics against inexperienced students. He led a company which routinely dismissed the rights, equality and humanity of others with less power than him.
We're seeing the formation of Charlie Kirk the myth right now, but let's not be mistaken: Charlie Kirk the man was a bully.
I honestly think that MSNBC commentator put it well in the comment that got him fired. Kirk cultivated hate. He contributed to this climate of violence and intolerance more so than most. It was an unfortunate, hateful end to a life of hate and no one is better off for it all.
I was so excited, waiting for your words on this subject. Per usual, you knocked it out of the park. Proud to support you as a spokesperson for our community. Much love to you and your wife. ❤️💪💕🏳️⚧️
Please Erin, I swear to god, don’t tell me this is the mainstream liberal take. I cannot live in a world where flipping CHARLIE KIRK is a model citizen even for our “allies”. 😣
this is the worst part, isn't it??
It would serve our allies well to recognize and remember that words can be violence, too. Charlie Kirk only play-acted honest, open debate -- he invited people to express opposing views so he could bully and belittle them with his hate and rhetoric. To think differently is a level of naivety and delusion that is beyond shameful for someone like Ezra Klein (and not at all surprising of someone as opportunistically pandering as Newsom). The attempted spin on this event sickens me even more than crime.
If it were my own death, I have no doubt that Charlie Kirk would celebrate it, to the extent that it reached his attention.
This might be your best piece ever.
Thanks for writing that. I don't want to live in a world where Charlie Kirk calls for my death. I also don't want to live in a world where we're shooting each other in the streets. I really just wish we'd never walked this road
Thank You, Erin. When even Nancy Pelosi joined the mourners, I couldn't wait for your voice of Truth and Reason to clear the air. I only wish yours was the majority of news media opinion. Charlie Kirk died by his beliefs, being one of those sacrificed to gun violence in a school, rather than see laws put in place to protect those on campuses. I only wish the Hate he spread died with him. We should broadcast you piece on him more widely.
The piece of toilet paper otherwise known as the New York Times saw fit to publish this quote from professional bigot and scumbag Terry Schilling: "I'm racking my brain trying to think of another political figure that had a similar impact and following who was assassinated, and the only person I can think of is Martin Luther King Jr.” What went down yesterday was an appalling act of violence. But invoking MLK? MLK was everything Kirk was not. And there is no excuse for publishing a quote like that and giving it currency.
I had a feeling Kirk's followers and supporters would end up comparing him to Dr. Martin Luther King. Despicable.
Very well spoken Erin.
Gun violence is reprehensible and repugnant and needs to stop. There are always so many effects of gun violence on others. It’s never just about the victim. Bereaved spouses, kids, friends. The cost of gun violence in the U.S. is astronomical. Other countries have done a much better job than we have of combating it.
The culture around handguns and other weapons of violence disturbs me, I'm not against the right to defend oneself, but we have to acknowledge how out of control the situation is.
You ever hear the Gil Scott Heron song "Gun"? It sorta meshes with what you're saying.
"'Cuz even though we've got the right to defend our homes, defend our lives, you gotta understand, get it in the hand, about the gun"
The responsibility of owning a firearm is large. I don't have any use for such a thing. I can't win a gun fight. It's just asking for trouble.
Me either. Some folks are cut out for that sort of thing - not me, though, I have no shame admitting it.
Erin, Thank you so much for such a rational, reasonable, ethically informed and well articulated piece of journalism. I wish this could be required reading for so many people who really need this perspective but are unlikely to see it.