Charlie Kirk death sparks 'assassination culture' concerns
Share and Follow


() As police ramp up security ahead of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s funeral on Sunday, a growing trend of political violence in the U.S. is being called into question.

Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot during a speaking event at Utah Valley University on September 10. The 31-year-old’s service is expected to draw President Donald Trump and other high-profile officials to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, prompting security measures comparable to those used during Super Bowl LVII.

Qanta Ahmed, a senior fellow at the Independent Women’s Forum, told that a clear split in American society will be on display during the funeral.

“We’re going to see this terrible split in response. One where we are revering it and we are weeping, and we are mourning. And the other where there will be a demonization of it,” Ahmed said.

Earlier this week, Ahmed penned an op-ed in The Spectator Australia titled “The martyrdom of Charlie Kirk: A Muslim’s elegy.” In the piece, Ahmed warns that Kirk’s death could be as impactful as the Iranian ayatollah’s fatwa against author Salman Rushdie in 1989. Rushdie had published a book the Ayatollah deemed blasphemous, and was forced into hiding when he and his associates were targeted in response to the book.

“During this week, I’ve spoken to many of my friends who also comment on incendiary issues. I’m frequently speaking about terrorism and radical Islam, and we now recognize the risks,” Ahmed said. “America was the one last place where this was safe to do and now, we see that safety has literally been devastated.”

Ahmed told that social media platforms need to be held accountable for their role in political violence.

“We have to recognize we are living in an assassination culture now that glorifies this. Remember the United Healthcare CEO? The commodification of that, the glorification of this, that is what is impacting so much of American youth,” Ahmed said. “This has become so deep, accountability has to come back.”

will provide special coverage of conservative activist Charlie Kirk‘s funeral Sunday, with host Leland Vittert at 1 p.m. ET ahead of the 2 p.m. service.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Texas father rescues kidnapped daughter by tracing her phone's location, sheriff's office says

Texas Dad Tracks Down Kidnapped Daughter Using Her Phone’s Location, Authorities Report

In a dramatic rescue in Texas, a father managed to locate and…
NFL news: Chicago Bears can clinch NFC North with Green Bay Packers loss to Baltimore Ravens, or win over San Francisco 49ers

NFL Update: Chicago Bears Poised to Secure NFC North Title with Packers’ Defeat to Ravens or Victory Against 49ers

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Chicago Bears are on the brink of…
Gilded Age mansion is transformed after it's saved from demolition

Historic Gilded Age Mansion Rescued from Demolition and Beautifully Restored

A once-dilapidated mansion from the Gilded Age has experienced a remarkable revival,…
Breathtaking Pacific cliff hides deadly secret in rich California city

Discover the Hidden Peril Lurking Beneath a Stunning Pacific Cliff in California’s Elite Enclave

California’s wealthiest suburb, Palos Verdes Estates, is known for its impressive average…
Texas teenager's final words before she left home and vanished

Texas Teen’s Mysterious Disappearance: Last Words Before Leaving Home Spark Concern

A Texas teenager, missing since Christmas Eve, expressed her love to her…
3 injured in fight turned shooting at Jacksonville Westside bar, officers said

Three People Hurt in Shooting After Fight Erupts at Jacksonville Westside Bar, Police Report

A confrontation that began inside a restaurant escalated when the alleged shooter…
Butcher behind 'some of the most brutal crimes in human history'

Infamous Butcher Linked to History’s Grisliest Crimes Uncovered

In the public eye, he was the picture of composure and assurance,…
Bob Ross' curls were actually a perm - see him before the iconic style

Discover Bob Ross’ Surprising Hair Secret: See His Transformation Before the Iconic Perm!

Bob Ross, the beloved painter known for his soothing voice and happy…