Congresswoman Denounces Charlie Kirk’s Murder: Does Violence Have a Place in Our Nation?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Charlie Kirk was shot during a university event in Utah.
- Congresswoman Deborah Ross condemned the violence.
- A manhunt is underway for the suspect.
- Over 200 tips have been received by the police.
- Turning Point USA plays a significant role in conservative politics.
Washington, Sep 12 (NationPress) Just one day after the tragic shooting death of leading conservative commentator and activist Charlie Kirk during a university event in Utah, Congresswoman Deborah Ross expressed her outrage over the assassination, stating, “violence has no place in the country.”
In an interview with IANS on Thursday in Washington, Ross, a Democratic Representative from North Carolina, emphasized that as elected officials, it is their duty to “take responsibility” for reducing the inflammatory political rhetoric.
“Over a year ago, there was an assassination attempt on then-candidate and now President Trump. We have also witnessed the assassination of lawmakers in Minnesota. As elected officials, we must take accountability for moderating this rhetoric and providing a better example for the American populace, including the President, who has, on multiple occasions, endorsed violence,” she remarked.
In the meantime, a substantial manhunt is in progress to apprehend the perpetrator, with authorities releasing two images of a “person of interest”.
Police have received over 200 tips and are pursuing numerous leads.
Investigators have found a high-powered hunting rifle, a palm print, and a shoe print in a wooded area near the campus. The FBI has offered a reward of $100,000 for any information that leads to the suspect's capture.
President Donald Trump, addressing reporters at the White House on Thursday, noted that authorities are “making significant progress.”
When asked how he wanted his supporters to react to Charlie Kirk’s murder, Trump replied, “He was a proponent of non-violence. That’s how I prefer to see people act.”
Earlier that day, Trump revealed that Kirk would posthumously receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Charlie Kirk, aged 31, was delivering a speech during a campus event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday when gunfire erupted, causing chaos among attendees. He was rushed to the hospital but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter.
Kirk was the founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), the nation’s foremost conservative student organization. He established the Arizona-based group at just 18 years old in 2012, transforming it into a political powerhouse with over 800 chapters across U.S. colleges. TPUSA has become a significant force in mobilizing young conservative voters, especially in the 2024 election, playing a crucial role in supporting Trump’s re-election campaign.