In the wake of the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, thousands of social media posts appear to list politically conservative targets for assassination by the political left.
Those on the list include podcaster Joe Rogan, Harry Potter author JK Rowling, conservative political commentators Ben Shapiro and Matt Walsh, among others.
In response to being targeted, Rowling, said, “If you believe free speech is for you but not your political opponents, you’re illiberal. If no contrary evidence could change your beliefs, you’re a fundamentalist. If you believe the state should punish those with contrary views, you’re a totalitarian. If you believe political opponents should be punished with violence or death, you’re a terrorist.”
Shapiro said, “We will never stop debating and discussing. We will never stop standing up for what America is and what she should be. And we will never let Charlie’s voice die.”
Walsh also said people were sending him screenshots of posted death threats, saying, “A lot of concerned people are sending me these screenshots (and dozens more). I appreciate their concern. But I’m not surprised and I won’t be going into hiding. We have to be louder and bolder now than ever. Or else the demons who killed Charlie win. And they cannot win.”
A website has also been launched to “Expose Charlie’s Murderers.” It includes statements posted on social media by individuals who allegedly espouse violence as well as those celebrating Kirk’s assassination.
“We have received nearly 20,000 submissions,” the site says. “This website will soon be converted into a searchable database of all 20,000 submissions, filterable by general location and job industry. This is a permanent and continuously-updating archive of Radical activists calling for violence.”
The website has posted screenshots of the posts made, the alleged poster’s name, publicly available information about their employer, the company’s name, university or college and other publicly available information like the town and state where they live that the poster made public themselves.
One post states, “We need to find people with better aim,” implying more politically conservative individuals should be murdered. Others posts state, “God bless the Second Amendment right;” “Are guns an issue now?” with graphic depictions of Kirk’s murder; “White supremacist down,” among others. Many posts refer to Kirk and his followers as “Nazis.”
According to publicly available social media posts, those making the claims include U.S. military contractor employees; students and faculty from multiple colleges and universities, early childhood teachers and daycare workers, assisted living and senior living facilities employees, city fire department employees, attorneys, a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader; school board members, a U.S. Army career counselor, among thousands more.
Those making the posts appear to be from different economic and racial demographics and appear to identify as the political left. They openly claim to oppose Christianity and support LGBTQ, policies, according to the screenshots of the posts.
Separate from the website, screenshots of social media posts of individuals celebrating Kirk’s assassination are also being posted online. Clemson College Republicans highlighted two professor posts, including a since deleted post stating Kirk’s assassination was karma and another saying, “Nigga was worried about DEI and DIED instead.” CCR also posted the phone numbers of the president and deans calling for accountability. The university has yet to issue a statement.
At Seattle Central College, the directive, “Kill All Charlie Kirks” was spray-painted on a college sign and an image of Kirk being killed was posted on a message board stating, “debate this.” Political commentator Sarah Stock said, “Not only are leftists gleefully celebrating Charlie’s murder, they are now using it to incite violence against conservative college students. This is political terrorism.”
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said at a news conference that authorities found shell casings with several inscriptions, including, “Hey fascist, Catch!” and “Oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao,” referring to a song used by resistance fighters in Italy during World War II.
Cox has described Kirk’s murder as a political assassination and is working to ensure his killer receives the death penalty.
On Friday morning, he announced that Kirk’s alleged assassin, Tyler Robinson, 22, of Utah, had been apprehended, The Center Square reported.
Online threats made about conservatives and public figures have been reported to law enforcement.
By contrast to the hatred spewed online, pastors are calling Americans to prayer, hoping Kirk’s death is a “catalyst to return America to a people of Godly values,” The Center Square reported.
