Political violence has returned to the center of American life. The assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University was not simply another shooting; it was a political execution, carried out in broad daylight, at a public event, with a sniper’s bullet.
For a nation already fractured by polarization, this is dangerous territory. Assassination is not a debate. It is not free speech. It is not justice. It is a declaration that disagreement can and should be settled by force. History warns us where this leads—from Lincoln to Kennedy, from Martin Luther King Jr. to Gabrielle Giffords. When political violence becomes acceptable to any side, democracy itself begins to crumble.
The Student Voice
On campuses across the country, the conversation has been raw. Some students, speaking anonymously, expressed approval:
“Bullets don’t discriminate. Especially when [Kirk] spewed so much hurtful stuff, not only about guns but about abortion, Gaza, Transgender people, and those of color,” one student said, arguing that Kirk had invited violence through his extreme and outspoken political opinions.
But this logic is dangerous. Once bullets become an acceptable answer to words, no one is safe—students, teachers, politicians, or children in schools.
Another student comments, “This is not simply an attack on the Conservative Party—it is an attack on everyone who values their First Amendment right to voice political opinions openly. Acts like this contribute to a culture of political violence, which we must always condemn. That condemnation should extend not only to high-profile political figures, but also to children affected by school shootings and civilians suffering in war-torn countries. They, too, deserve equal—if not greater—representation and protection.”
The Umbrella of Violence
Kirk’s killing was not the only violence that day. Evergreen High School in Jefferson County, Colorado, was the site of another tragedy. A 16-year-old student wounded two classmates, then died by suicide. Each incident had its own context and motives, but both fall under the same umbrella: America’s refusal to confront gun violence.
It is inconsistent—and deeply hypocritical—to mourn one shooting while celebrating another. To condemn bullets in classrooms while cheering for them on political stages. To demand gun restrictions while applauding the use of the very weapons you want to limit. Under the umbrella of violence, all these tragedies are connected. You cannot pick and choose when gun violence is “ok.”
Threats to HBCUs
The day after Kirk’s killing, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) received waves of threats. Alabama State, Hampton, Spelman, Southern University, Clark Atlanta, and others went into lockdown. Students were told to shelter in place, and classes were canceled. The message is clear: political intimidation is prevailing. Violence is not confined to one event, one target, one ideology. It is spreading outward.
Hampton University is one of multiple institutions to experience a lockdown on Sept. 11.
Leaders Condemn the Celebrations
Some Americans have celebrated Kirk’s death online, saying it was deserved. Yet prominent leaders across the political spectrum have urged restraint and humanity.
Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders: “Political violence has no place in this country. We must condemn this horrifying attack.”
Kamala Harris: “Political violence has no place in America.”
Kamala Harris
Barack Obama: called the killing “despicable” and offered prayers for Kirk’s wife and young children.
Barrack Obama
Other critics of Kirk—opponents, commentators, even liberal academics—have likewise warned that rejoicing in assassination undermines democratic principles.
They are right. Celebration corrodes empathy and weakens moral claims for reform.
A Brief Mention: What Policy Could Have Done
It is worth noting—without dwelling on irony—that Kirk was shot while speaking about gun violence. The very restrictions he opposed might have saved him. Stronger background checks, tighter regulation of long-range rifles, stricter event security: these are not partisan luxuries, but public safety necessities.
And the policies would not only have served Kirk. They could have served to protect the children who passed in the school shootings that happened that very day. They serve HBCUs being targeted. They serve Greenville, serve every city, every family, every child.
Outrage Is Not Enough
Many who had never spoken up before regarding ongoing violence posted about Kirk’s death. Outrage was everywhere. But outrage alone changes nothing. Less than half of eligible Americans vote in midterms, the very elections that decide gun policy.
Vote
If we want change, we must:
Register to vote and show up in 2026
Call representatives and demand reform
Support organizations tackling gun violence prevention
Refuse to normalize celebration of death, no matter whose it is
Change starts with us—not with hashtags, not with selective outrage.
Half-Mast on 9/11
President Trump orders White House flags at half-staff in honor of Charlie Kirk
President Trump ordered flags flown at half-mast for Charlie Kirk. That this happened on September 11, a day of solemn remembrance, speaks volumes about political priorities. On a day when America should be united in reflection, the national symbol of mourning was redirected toward one man’s assassination. Meanwhile, countless victims of gun violence, hate crimes, and threats remain invisible.
A Global Mirror
America’s moment cannot be separated from the global stage. Europe is distributing survival kits to citizens as war looms, Russia has violated Poland’s airspace with drones, and NATO solidarity is tested. Former President Trump openly said NATO allies who failed to spend 5% of GDP on defense might be left to Russia’s mercy. Now, Russia is testing those boundaries, history echoing how World War II began: aggression unchecked, divisions exploited.
If the U.S. embraces political violence at home, what moral ground remains to condemn it abroad?
Choose Action Over Celebration
Charlie Kirk’s death, the school shootings, the HBCU threats, and Greenville all belong to the same umbrella of violence. You cannot celebrate one and mourn the others. You cannot pick when shootings matter and when they don’t.
The only consistent answer is this: reject political violence. Condemn all shootings. Channel outrage into action—voting, policy, reform. Empathy may not have been Kirk’s word, but it must be ours. For his wife. For his children. For every family who lives under the shadow of the umbrella of violence.
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