Black Lives Matter reacted to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, urging both the left and the right to put down their proverbial swords to finally put an end to political violence.
“The killing of Charlie Kirk marks another dangerous step forward in this escalation,” said Shalomyah Bowers, a leader of Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation. “When someone is killed on the left, leaders and communities on the left often point to the right as the source of blame. When someone is killed on the right, the response is mirrored—those on the right blame the left.”
“We cannot ignore the flames of political violence threatening society,” urged Bowers. He continued, “History shows us the dangers of allowing this violence to take root, from the shooting of Congressman Steve Scalise and the attack on Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, to the more recent killing of Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. These tragedies make clear that political violence knows no party or ideology.”
The college campus murder of 31-year-old Kirk has sparked heavy dialogue and debate from television airwaves to social media timelines, from those who disagreed with Kirk’s controversial positions and incendiary comments to those who respected him and valued his politics.
“In the aftermath of these tragedies, social media platforms and commentators often begin amplifying the worst things the individual may have said or done, as if trying to justify the violence or diminish its gravity. This is a deeply troubling trend. This logic erodes our shared humanity and continues to inflame division,” said Bowers. “The reason political violence continues to spiral is not only because of the violence itself, but often because of how both the left and the right respond to it. We, at Black Lives Matter, refuse to repeat this cycle.”
The racial justice organization, of which Kirk was very critical, called on leaders to condemn all political violence, adding, “Whether in Utah or Washington, D.C., every American, across the country, deserves safety and dignity, free from the threat of violence.”
BLM said they are committed to breaking the pattern of “reactionary violence, moral relativism, and dehumanization” and urged everyone to “resist calls for revenge.”
“Vigilante justice has no place in a just society. Not on the left. Not on the right. Not in response to racism, and not in the name of righteousness,” said Bowers. “It must be rejected, always. Let’s use these moments to reflect, mourn, and seek a better way forward.”
