Charlie Kirk privately messaged me before his death. Here's the content of his message.
In the wake of the tragic and senseless murder of conservative figure Charlie Kirk, America finds itself at a crossroads. The events surrounding his death have sparked a nationwide conversation about civility, free speech, and the dangers of political rhetoric.
Charlie Kirk, a renowned debater and organiser of his generation, advocated for more conversation and civility in his final 24 hours. His call for a more respectful discourse was commendable and should be upheld by all. However, his murder has left many questioning the state of our national dialogue.
The author of this piece immediately and unconditionally condemned Kirk's murder. The senseless act of violence is a reminder that we must strive for a more peaceful and understanding society.
In the aftermath of Kirk's death, a firehose of tweets and media appearances followed, with Kirk's opponent challenging his arguments. Despite the pushback, Kirk remained steadfast in his belief that his opponent should not be harmed or silenced. He wanted to be out-debated and out-organised, not out-silenced.
Unfortunately, this call for civility was met with a torrent of racist death threats against the author. This is a stark reminder that the rhetoric of some can have dangerous consequences.
Kirk's comments on CNN, particularly his assertion that the killing of a White woman by a Black man was motivated solely by anti-White hatred, were denounced by the author as unfounded.
The author has tweeted a message of condolences for Kirk's loved ones and those affected by his murder. The exact motives behind the killing are still being investigated, but it is clear that a coward's bullet robbed conservatives of a rising talent, progressives of a worthy opponent, and a family of a loving father.
The authors and Kirk had been publicly sparring over the killing of a Ukrainian refugee and its relationship to race. The author encourages both the Right and the Left to avoid giving up on open debate and dialogue, as Charlie Kirk did not do so.
In a tragic twist, it was revealed that Kirk had been contacted by someone very close to the suspected assassin, specifically the assassin's father, who ultimately betrayed him before his arrest and subsequent murder.
The author warns against being whipped up into believing that political violence is the way. Most online callers for such violence are bluffing and not capable of causing harm. The author also emphasises that pundits and influencers are not trying to spark a civil war, but are simply doing their jobs and fulfilling their callings.
If Americans choose censorship and civil war, they cannot blame that choice on Charlie Kirk. He was striving for a different approach in his last moments, sending a direct message to the author the day before his murder.
In conclusion, the tragic death of Charlie Kirk serves as a stark reminder of the importance of civility and open dialogue in our national discourse. We must strive to uphold the values that Kirk stood for in his final moments and work towards a more peaceful and understanding society.
