Charlie Kirk (1993–2025) was assassinated for exercising his right to free speech on a college campus. Charlie Kirk’s assassin on September 10th, 2025, may have ended his speech, but it did not silence his message, nor did it end his political platform or policy ideas. Kirk’s death highlights the horrific detriment of political radicalism in contemporary American polis. No person should face death or harm for their political beliefs. Charlie Kirk did not advocate harm to any alternative view, political or religious. Charlie Kirk was a Christian civil rights activist who fought for the free speech of every American citizen, was publicly murdered.
Kirk’s assassin was radicalized by mainstream media rhetoric. The rhetoric’s accusation is not over its partisan, but its violent inference and forced mass bifurcation. Party leaders do not orchestrate the interests of the public. The public commands action that parties advocate solutions for. Thus, party leaders must operate in a manner that enhances public good—not erodes it. Bipartisanship has been America’s political framework for over two centuries, yet today there exists a battle within another point of axis. A battle between good versus evil; light versus dark; creation versus destruction; strength versus weakness; and Heaven versus Hell. But darkness cannot prevail. Although darkness may temporarily diffuse light, it cannot extinguish the light within us. Further, our light can be given to others in times of darkness.
Charlie Kirk’s ideas did not advocate for the harm of political opposition, nor the eradication of alternative religions. Instead, Kirk promoted Christian ideas and advocated for Biblical policy. Scripture states that “[n]o one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house.” (NLT, 1996, Luke 11:33).
Violence is never an acceptable course of action in American politics. Political leaders’ rhetoric must reflect the needs of their constituency. But political leaders can also advocate, appropriate, and approve the use of violent action from their electors.
A legislator’s personal hatred toward political opposition radicalizes constituents that would otherwise remain neutral. Therefore, political leaders must steward their influence by suppressing their personal views, and serves the electors within their district rather than the expectations of their party leaders. Luke adds that “[y]our eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is unhealthy, your body is filled with darkness. (NLT, 1996, Luke 11:34). The shooter’s deranged actions depict a sinister perception; Luke writes “[m]ake sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness,” (NLT, 1996, Luke 11:35). Charlie Kirk demonstrated a life filled with light, whose actions influenced the politics of countless citizens around the world. Luke wrote that “[i]f you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.” (NLT, 1996, Luke 11:36).
Special interest groups have exploited the partisan division, weaponizing politics: pitting the states against states; districts against districts; constituents against constituents; and man against his neighbor. This is necessary time for America to look back upon its heritage of resiliency and rise up against the division sought by executive bureaucracy, subsidized institutionalism, and near-autonomous interest groups.
In sum, Charlie Kirk’s assassination marks a new political era for America. Kirk set the precedent for free speech in modern America, specifically challenging higher education policy on campus. His murder stands eerily similar to past assassinations, like Robert F. Kennedy; Martin Luther King, Jr.; John F. Kennedy; and Malcolm X. Kirk’s death represents a tragic time in American political history. Charlie Kirk’s political ideas and policy advocation has inspired a new generation of politics. He will not be forgotten.
Jordan Muhsin 