America's spokesman killed by the Left’s assassination culture

Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was murdered on Wednesday in a political assassination, the latest victim of what researchers call the Left’s “assassination culture.”

Kirk, 31, was one of the leading conservative figures in the nation and was recently eulogized by Dennis Prager as “the most articulate spokesman for America.” His activism was anchored in his Christian faith and a firm belief that Americans can bridge their political divide through respectful dialogue. That dialogue was abruptly cut off on Wednesday when Kirk was shot in the neck by a sniper while debating college students at Utah Valley University. He is survived by his wife and two small children.

Immediately following the murder, social media was awash with Leftists celebrating Kirk’s death. MSNBC contributor Matthew Dowd said Kirk had it coming because he voiced “awful” opinions. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) blamed the assassination on President Trump’s “rhetoric.”

The reaction shocked and angered the Right, but some shared an April tweet from Kirk himself warning about the Left’s assassination culture.

“Assassination culture is spreading on the left,” Kirk wrote. “Forty-eight percent of liberals say it would be at least somewhat justified to murder Elon Musk. Fifty-five percent said the same about Donald Trump.

“In California, activists are naming ballot measures after Luigi Mangione.

“The left is being whipped into a violent frenzy. Any setback, whether losing an election or losing a court case, justifies a maximally violent response.

“This is the natural outgrowth of left-wing protest culture tolerating violence and mayhem for years on end. The cowardice of local prosecutors and school officials have turned the left into a ticking time bomb.”

Kirk was referring to a survey reported by The Gold Report in April, which found that as much as 55% of those who self-identify as Leftists said it would at least be somewhat justified to assassinate President Donald Trump or billionaire Elon Musk. These findings correlate with the Left’s celebration of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s assassination in December by Luigi Mangione, as well as the attempt on Trump’s life on July 13, 2024.

Respondents were also asked whether violent attacks on Tesla dealerships are justified to protest Elon Musk. Forty percent said such attacks are at least somewhat acceptable.

“These attitudes are not fringe — they reflect an emergent assassination culture, grounded in far-left authoritarianism and increasingly normalized in digital discourse,” said the report. “The reports found widespread justification for lethal violence — including assassination — among younger, highly online, and ideologically left-aligned users,” the report added.

Celebrating a double murder for ‘Palestine’

A month after the report was published, a Leftist named Elias Rodriguez gunned down Aaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, young Israeli embassy staffers who were standing outside the Jewish Museum in Washington, DC. Rodriguez, who supports Hamas and has called for the genocide of White people, shouted “Free Palestine” as he shot the couple, who were engaged to be married.

Members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) endorsed the killings as a legitimate protest against the perceived killing of civilians by Israel. The DSA boasts over 90,000 members, including far-Left members of Congress like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI).

Dems urge lawmakers to get violent

Axios reported in July that Democrat lawmakers say they’re being urged by constituents to “fight harder” against the GOP by resorting to violence.

"Some of them have suggested . . . what we really need to do is be willing to get shot" when storming federal agencies like ICE centers, a House Democrat told the news outlet. “Our own base is telling us that what we're doing is not good enough . . . [that] there needs to be blood to grab the attention of the press and the public," the lawmaker added.

Another Democrat legislator reported being told by constituents that “civility isn't working" and to prepare for "violence . . . to fight to protect our democracy."

Yet another said that "people online have sent me crazy s*** . . . told me to storm the White House and stuff like that.”

"What I have seen is a demand that we get ourselves arrested intentionally or allow ourselves to be victims of violence, and ... a lot of times that's coming from economically very secure white people," said another House Democrat. “The expectations aren't just unreal. They're dangerous," the lawmaker added.

Calling for Trump’s beheading

In June, North Carolina state Rep. Julie von Haefen (D) called for the beheading of President Trump. Von Haefen had posted a Facebook Reel containing a picture of a woman holding a sign that read: “In these difficult times, some cuts are necessary.” The sign featured an image of a guillotine with blood pooled around the base. The poster hung from a pole, on which hung two severed heads. On one end hung a head made to resemble President Trump, streaked with fake blood. On the other end hung a head that appeared to resemble Elon Musk with a swastika drawn on the forehead.

Violence against ICE

On June 14th, 24-year-old Robert Jacob Hoopes participated in a riot outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Oregon. Hoopes threw a rock that struck a police officer in the head, causing what the DOJ called  a “significant laceration” under the officer’s eye. With the help of two others, Hoopes used a pole as a battering ram to try to break through the facility, causing “significant damage” to the main door.

Obama-appointed Judge Youlee Yim You ordered Hoopes released from jail, to be fitted with an ankle monitor instead. According to Oregon Public Broadcasting, the judge based her decision partly on the showing of support for Hoopes in the courtroom. Attendees included Hoopes’ father, who said he was proud of his son for defending illegal aliens.

Attacking a Tesla dealership

Federal judges have also refused to detain Adam Lansky, a transgender-identifying man who attacked a Tesla dealership in January. Lansky firebombed the dealership with Molotov cocktails, aimed a rifle at a witness, and returned the next day to shoot up the building. According to the Daily Caller, the DOJ warned the court that Lansky belongs to a militant organization called the Socialist Rifle Association, a group that trains radical Leftists and Marxists across the US in firearms. The DOJ also expressed concern that, if released, Lansky could continue to make bombs.

“The [improvised explosive devices] used by Lansky were all manufactured by him using everyday items, empty glass bottles, gasoline, fabric, etc., all these items remain easily accessible to Lansky in the community if released,” the DOJ said in a court filing.

Nevertheless, Obama-appointed Judge Stacie Beckerman ordered Lansky’s release to a halfway house, calling his behavior an “outlier event.” When the DOJ appealed to Judge Adrienne Nelson, who is celebrated as the first Black woman to serve on Oregon’s District Court, she upheld Beckerman’s decision.

Attempted murder of ICE officers

Beckerman also ordered the release of another transgender-identifying rioter, “Julie” Winters, to a halfway house. Winters tried to set off a bomb near an ICE building, threw a large knife at a federal officer, which missed, and pulled a knife on officers who tried to restrain him. He had also assaulted a police officer in December. Beckerman released Winters from jail because he was kept in solitary confinement rather than with male or female inmates due to his gender confusion.

Destroying Teslas

In April, a Democratic Minnesota official evaded charges for domestic terrorism. Dylan Bryan Adams, a fiscal policy analyst for the Minnesota Department of Human Services, was arrested after keying six Teslas, causing over $21,000 in damages. Instead of filing charges, Hennepin County District Attorney Mary Moriarty—who has been backed by billionaire George Soros—decided to enter Adams into an adult diversion program. Diversion programs are designed to keep criminals out of the justice system and offer activities such as counseling and community service.

More Tesla firebombing

Owen McIntire, a 19-year-old physics major at the University of Massachusetts Boston, was arrested in April after throwing two Molotov cocktails at a Tesla dealership in Kansas City. The firebombs caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to two cybertrucks and two charging stations. 

Federal prosecutors sought to keep McIntire in federal custody, arguing that the terrorism-related charges make him a public safety threat. On April 24th, however, Judge Jessica Hedges overruled the prosecutors and granted McIntire release so he could continue to receive “gender-affirming care.” The judge also cited McIntire’s autism and ADHD, for which he takes medication. He was released to the custody of his parents and will remain under house arrest until his trial, which has been delayed a year.

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