The assassination of controversial public speaker Charlie Kirk has ignited a mixed reaction throughout the world. This event has stirred conversation about freedom of speech, gun violence and what qualifies as protest.
Stan State students expressed their varied thoughts on this topic and engaged in this complicated discussion.
Natalie Mejia (Senior, Communications) had strong opinions regarding Kirk and freedom of speech.
“I think it’s terrible, it’s truly sad that we are in such dark times that there are people celebrating someone’s death,” Mejia stated.
“I thought America was a place where we had a protected first amendment. Well, it doesn’t seem like freedom of speech when there are people who can’t handle someone else’s opinion that they feel the need to KILL over that opinion.”
Mejia continued by expressing her remorse for America and those close to Kirk.
“I pray for Charlie, his family and healing for society and ending violence in any form PERIOD!”
Diego Castro shared his personal view point on the irony of the event.
“What happened today is because of his beliefs, because he’s so outspoken about it,” Castro explained.
Castro also discussed his views on what Kirk was promoting to his followers.
“I know he has a lot of views against women and LGBTQ, very supportive of lack of gun control. So yeah, it’s kind of ironic what happened today,”
“Not speaking against school shootings, how ironic that at an institution he was shot,” Castro said.
Michael Fahey (Senior, Creative Media) felt angered and hurt by the violence inflicted against Kirk.
“He was a good man, who was strong in his faith and firm in his beliefs. His death was a tragedy and greatly angered me,” Fahey stated. “He was willing to talk about his beliefs in public and online not to promote violence, but to encourage conversation. No matter where you stand politically, this is what we should all do.”
Ella McGregor (Senior, Child Development) expresses sympathy for a person killed through gun violence, but struggles to have empathy for Charlie Kirk in specific.
“It sucks that it happened but I guess he had it coming for him,” McGregor said.
She further explained her stance on the assassination of Kirk.
“I think gun violence is gun violence, and that it’s horrible that that happened to him. But I will say it is kind of ironic that the man who preaches about school shootings being a necessary evil for us to own guns is quite ironic.”
Calista Johnson (Senior, Creative Media) does not agree with Charlie Kirk, but she also does not agree with gun violence.
“I personally did not agree with anything that Charlie Kirk has ever said. I think that his actions and comments were very harmful and hurtful to many individuals,” Johnson stated.
Johnson went on to share her thoughts about the lack of empathy for Kirk’s passing despite her disagreement with his views and beliefs.
“However I think it’s important to have empathy for the situation even if you don’t care for someone or their opinion” Johnson continued. “I don’t think it’s okay to celebrate someone who has passed or to celebrate violence in that manner.”
The campus response to Kirk’s death reflects a wide array of views from grief to anger to irony.
We invite students to write a Letter to the Editor to further express their thoughts on this event.
Contributed reporting by Emaan Nawabi and Daniela Macias.
