I didn’t really know anything about Charlie Kirk until news of his death filtered through yesterday evening. IKEA is a strange place to learn about a shooting, especially one that feels significant. And it does feel significant.
Both the UK and America have a sad, contemptible recent history of the murder and attempted murder of politicians. Charlottesville saw protestor Heather Danielle Heyer killed.
Yesterday’s attack feels like it has moved things on once again. While a manhunt for the shooter is ongoing at the time of writing, it seems fair to assume that, one way or another, this attack was politically motivated. Yet Kirk was not a politician. He was not elected to any office. He was a media figure and activist giving a talk.
And he was shot for that.
I guess this is the point when I’m meant to say that I didn’t agree with a lot of what Kirk believed and said. I didn’t, but who cares? Opinions don’t justify murder. Stating that someone should not be shot in the neck doesn’t need any caveats.
Charlie Kirk Death is a Sign we All Need to Step Back
Charlie Kirk was willing to debate and defend his opinions in public. In our world of algorithm-driven media echo chambers, that is a rarity. It is important. Yesterday’s attack will likely put others off engaging similarly.
The problem of political violence is not exclusive to the US. This morning, Labour MP Sharon Hodgson’s constituency office was the subject of an arson attack. The first floor of the building where the office is located has been burned out. Graffiti found at the site read “328 days blood on your hands,” per The Guardian. From Jo Cox to Trump to the events of the last 24 hours, we cannot have a world where political debate and activism come with a threat to life.
The media, of course, has a responsibility to help tackle this. That means not dehumanising politicians even when justly criticising them strongly. This is not just about mainstream outlets; TikTok influencers and newsletter writers have as much of a responsibility as national columnists.
We all need to take a deep breath and step back from the brink.
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