Editorial: Charlie Kirk assassination -- Political violence has to stop |

Idaho Statesman on Sep 11, 2025

Published in Op Eds

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Opinion By The Editorial Board September 10, 2025 5:04 PM Turning Point CEO Charlie Kirk, seen here at the Turning Point USA's Young Latino Leadership Summit in Phoenix in 2021, was shot and killed Wednesday in Orem, Utah. Meg Potter/The Republic via USA USA TODAY NETWORK The killing of Charlie Kirk on Wednesday on a college campus in Utah is undoubtedly an act of political violence that should have no place in America. The irony is that if the person who assassinated Kirk did so because of opposition to Kirk’s political ideology, the shooting only serves to make Kirk a martyr, to amplify his message and to hurt their own. Political violence never advances your side of the political argument. Attempting to silence someone with whom you disagree does not make your case. Robert F. Kennedy was killed in a politically motivated assassination. Today, he is often glorified. One could argue that the shooting at then-candidate Donald Trump’s rally helped him to win the presidency. Already, the social media world is blaming “the Left,” ridiculously accusing it of “assassination culture,” forgetting that a Democratic Minnesota state legislator and her husband were shot and killed, and another Democratic state legislator and his wife were shot in a politically motivated assassination in June. It doesn’t matter what “side” the political violence comes from or is directed at; it’s flat-out wrong and appalling no matter where it comes from. But blaming an entire group of people for the actions of one person is part of the problem. To blame “the Left” for Kirk’s assassination or to blame “the Right” for the killing of Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman only invites more political violence. The vilification of political sides on social media has exacerbated the increasing coarseness of our discourse. Kirk has been to Idaho at least a couple of times, most recently to the Boise State University campus, where he challenged transgender rights, and argued against abortion rights and universal health care. He held a rally at the Ford Idaho Center in 2021, at which a participant asked when it was appropriate to use guns against political enemies. We won’t discuss today the politics of Charlie Kirk, some of his views or the positions he’s taken. Because that doesn’t matter. No one, regardless of their political views — agreeable, abhorrent or otherwise — should pay the price of free speech with their life. And no one group should be blamed for it. It has to stop. Statesman editorials are the opinion of the Idaho Statesman’s editorial board. Board members are opinion editor Scott McIntosh, opinion writer Bryan Clark, editor Chadd Cripe, newsroom editors Dana Oland and Jim Keyser and community members John Hess, Debbie McCormick and Julie Yamamoto. Related Stories from Idaho Statesman BOISE & GARDEN CITY Charlie Kirk once faced question about gun violence in Idaho September 10, 2025 4:29 PM IDAHO NEWS ‘As offensive as it is, it’s not illegal’: Idaho deals with violent, ‘nasty’ rhetoric December 12, 2021 4:00 AM Get unlimited digital access #ReadLocal Try 1 month for $1 CLAIM OFFER EDITORIALS Don’t use Idaho National Guard to help immigration enforcement | Opinion August 28, 2025 4:00 AM EDITORIALS Ban on mail voting? Trump’s latest assault on the Constitution | Opinion August 26, 2025 4:00 AM EDITORIALS Want to take the train to work in Boise? Get on board now | Opinion August 22, 2025 4:00 AM EDITORIALS Immigration situation in Idaho may get worse before it gets better | Opinion Updated August 12, 2025 1:42 PM EDITORIALS Idaho is failing our students with special needs | Opinion August 8, 2025 4:00 AM EDITORIALS Idaho gets DOGE’d with Anderson Ranch Dam expansion project | Opinion July 31, 2025 4:00 AM Part of the McClatchy Media Network ABOUT About Us Contact Us Archives Connect with us: SUBSCRIPTIONS Customer Service Start a Subscription Cancel a Subscription Make a Payment ADVERTISING McClatchy Advertising Place an Ad Place a Classified Ad Place an Ad - Celebrations Place an Obituary Staffing Solutions Political | Advocacy Advertising EXPLORE Read Today's Edition Mobile Apps Newsletters Puzzles & Games Horoscopes COPYRIGHT COMMENTING POLICY PRIVACY POLICY COOKIE PREFERENCES YOUR PRIVACY CHOICES TERMS OF SERVICE MOBILE SMS TERMS OF SERVICE

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