A majority of Democrats joined their GOP colleagues to support the measure. One Democrat who voted no said the resolution lionized Kirk’s beliefs.
A majority of House Democrats on Sept. 19 joined their GOP colleagues in supporting a resolution to honor the late conservative influencer Charlie Kirk and condemn his assassination.
Kirk, 31, was fatally shot on Sept. 10 at an event at Utah Valley University in Utah while answering an attendee’s questions as part of his “American Comeback” tour. He is survived by his wife, Erika Kirk, and their two young children. His funeral is scheduled for Sept. 21.
The resolution stated that Kirk “was a devoted Christian, who boldly lived out his faith with conviction, courage, and compassion,” and “a dedicated husband,” and “a loving father to their daughter and son, exemplifying the virtues of faith, fidelity, and fatherhood.”
Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 with businessman Bill Montgomery, with a goal of promoting conservative values by appealing to young people. Its mission statement is to “identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote the principles of fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government.”
The bill honored Kirk by portraying him as a free-speech champion who “worked tirelessly to promote unity” and engaged in “respectful, civil discourse.” It further condemned political violence more broadly and called on Americans to “recommit to respectful debate.”
Democrats unsupportive of the bill said the portrayal of Kirk is what they took issue with, not the violence condemnation.
Rep. Sanford Bishop, Jr. of Georgia said in a statement he condemned the murder and offered prayers and condolences to Kirk’s family.
“If this resolution were to simply condemn Charlie Kirk’s murder, it would have had my vote,” Bishop said. “Unfortunately, it was an attempt to use this tragedy as an opportunity to lionize his beliefs. While he was entitled to have and express his beliefs freely, some of them are offensive to me and to the many people targeted by his invective and vitriol. They do not reflect the highest and noblest values of America, nor my Judeo-Christian faith, and I cannot condone them.”
By Chase Smith
