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The right-wing political activist was shot dead Wednesday during a speech at a University.
The right-wing political activist was shot dead Wednesday during a speech at a University.
Charlie Kirk shot dead, 31
Wednesday, right-wing political activist, media personality and Trump-supporter, Charlie Kirk, was shot dead during a speech at Utah Valley University.
He was rushed to the hospital, but later pronounced dead.
Trump’s connection to younger voters
Kirk helped amplify Republican President Donald Trump’s agenda to young voters.
He co-founded the conservative organization Turning Point USA in 2012 and was its executive director.
A controversial figure
Through the years, Kirk has repeatedly made headlines with his often inflammatory rhetoric, and here, we give you 5 of his most rememorable.
1. Empathy is a “made-up, new age term”
In 2022 during an episode of “The Charlie Kirk Show”, Kirk aired his thoughts on empathy, and it’s safe to say, he was not a fan.
“I can’t stand the word empathy, actually. I think empathy is a made-up, new age term that — it does a lot of damage,” he said.
2. Some gun deaths are “unfortunately” worth it
In 2023, during a TPUSA Faith event, Kirk was asked about his views on the Second Amendment (the right to bear arms) after a recent shooting happened.
“I think it’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights,” Kirk replied.
3. Hydroxychloroquine had proved “100% effective” in treating Covid-19
In an article from 2020, The New York Times focused on Kirks Twitter posts, highligting that Kirk was briefly banned from Twitter for claiming that the malaria drug Hydroxychloroquine had proved “100% effective” in treating Covid-19.
Donald Trump claimed the same in the Spring of 2020.
According to WHO and the Mayo Clinic, Hydroxychloroquine does not prevent infection with the virus that causes Covid-19 and is not a recommended treatment for Covid.
4. “We have to tell our babies to stop crying”
In an article from 2018, Politico writes that a Turning Point USA video on social media showed Kirk saying that “we have to tell our babies to stop crying”.
The context was that Kirk believed people are not inherently good, and that “we’re broken by sin upon birth”.
5. If his 10 year old daughter was raped, the baby would be delivered
In a debate concept called “Surrounded” on YouTube, Kirk was face with 25 students asking him questions.
One student posed a theoretical scenario, where Kirk’s then 10 year old daughter had been raped, empragnated, and if Kirk would still not support an abortion.
Kirk replied that “the baby would be delivered”.
Manhunt for assassin ongoing
Police and federal agents have mounted an intense manhunt for Charlie Kirk’s suspected assassin.
At the time of publishing, no suspect is in costudy.
