Black Americans aren’t mourning or celebrating Charlie Kirk’s death.
Many Black Americans are expressing little empathy after Charlie Kirk’s murder, in large part because of his long history of denigrating Black people, promoting racist rhetoric, and publicly attacking Black leaders, cultural achievements, and civil rights progress.
Kirk’s repeated statements questioning Black professionals’ qualifications, disparaging historic figures like Martin Luther King Jr., and opposing civil rights legislation deeply alienated the Black community and fostered resentment.
Black Americans shouldn’t be expected to forget the harm perpetrated upon them simply because the perpetrator died. It’s simply unreasonable, and quite frankly, insulting.
Charlie Kirk’s Platform of Hate
Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA, was known for its vocal opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and frequently promoted false claims about Black history and current events, such as conspiracy theories about George Floyd’s death.
He often used his platform to question and ridicule Black achievement and to oppose national holidays and legislation commemorating Black progress, such as Juneteenth and the Civil Rights Act.
If I see a Black pilot, I’m gonna be like, ‘boy, I hope he is qualified. -Charlie Kirk
Joy Reid, Michelle Obama, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Sheila Jackson Lee do not have the brain processing power to otherwise be taken seriousl. -Charlie Kirk
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is awful and not a good person. -Charlie Kirk
We made a huge mistake when we passed the Civil Rights Act in the 1960s. -Charlie Kirk
Juneteenth threatens the fabric of our country…should not be a federal holiday. -Charlie Kirk
Legacy of Harm
Free speech is a cherished right in this country, but that right doesn’t negate the fact that Charlie Kirk’s public statements normalized bigotry and emboldened racist narratives. His constant dehumanization of Black Americans leaves a legacy of harm.
For many Black Americans, the lack of empathy for Kirk’s murder is not indifference to human life, but a reflection of longstanding frustration and fatigue with public hate and exclusion.
Current Example of Harm From X Post
(https://x.com/OccupyDemocrats/status/1966220606489461231)
Assassination Details
Charlie Kirk was shot during a public speaking event at Utah Valley University, Orem, Utah, as part of his “American Comeback Tour.” A single shot was fired at 12:20 PM local time, striking Kirk in the neck as he answered a question from the crowd.
The incident happened in front of approximately 3,000 attendees, including Kirk’s wife and two children, who were unharmed. The panicked audience fled as emergency services responded and Kirk was rushed to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The Manhunt and Investigation
Authorities immediately launched a large-scale manhunt for the shooter, described as “college-age” and still at large as investigations continue. Surveillance footage captured the gunman moving through the university, firing from a rooftop, and escaping into a nearby neighborhood.
A high-powered rifle was recovered from a nearby wooded area, along with forensic evidence. The FBI and local police are actively pursuing multiple leads, using video technology and canvassing for witnesses.
FBI releases images of person of interest in Kirk’s assassination:
Update: Sep. 12, 2025
Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old from Washington, Utah, was arrested on Thursday evening, September 12, 2025, following a 33-hour manhunt.
The Arrest
Robinson was captured after his own father recognized him in surveillance footage released by authorities and confronted him about it. According to law enforcement sources, when the father asked “Tyler, is this you? This looks like you,” Robinson confessed to shooting Kirk. The father then convinced his son to contact a youth pastor, who in turn notified the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Marshals.
Evidence
Investigators found a bolt-action rifle wrapped in a towel in a wooded area near the campus, with inscriptions on unfired casings reading “Hey, fascist! CATCH!” and other messages that may indicate political motivation. The arrest was aided by forensic evidence including palm prints, shoe impressions, and surveillance footage showing Robinson arriving on campus in a gray Dodge Challenger and later fleeing across rooftops.
