Far-right provocateur Charlie Kirk is the founder of Turning Point USA, which targets college students in an effort to mobilize a young conservative base.
Kirk has frequently spread conservative disinformation, including the right-wing delusion that the 2020 election was somehow "stolen" by Democrats engaging in widespread election fraud. He even funded nearly 100 buses to charter people to the January 6 "Save America" rally, which later devolved into the deadly failed insurrection against the United States Capitol.
As the insurrection proved, the lie that the election was stolen can mobilize people to violence. That was proven yet again with a question posed to Kirk during a recent speaking engagement.
Watch below
The worst part of this isn\u2019t when this guy at Charlie Kirk\u2019s tour says, \u201cWhen do we get to use the guns .. how many elections are they going to steal before we kill these people?\u201d No, the worst part is Kirk\u2019s response, which is just that he shouldn\u2019t do it because it won\u2019t work.pic.twitter.com/VjiDZRVncB— Ron Filipkowski (@Ron Filipkowski) 1635278615
One attendee asked Kirk:
"This is tyranny. When do we get to use the guns? That's not a joke, I'm not saying it like that, I mean literally where's the line? How many elections are they gonna steal before we kill these people?"
The conservative audience met the question with applause and agreement.
Kirk denounced the question, but not because violence shouldn't be tolerated, but because violence would supposedly help Democrats:
"I'm gonna denounce that, and I'm gonna tell you why. Because you're playing into all their plans ... They are trying to provoke you and everyone here. They are trying to make you do something that will be violent, that will justify a takeover of your freedoms and liberties the likes of which we have never seen. ... We are close to have momentum to be able to put this country back on a trajectory using the peaceful means that we have at us."
The question generated outrage online.
What would this country do if it was a crowd of Muslims or people of color who said this? Just think about it. It's good to be White here.https://twitter.com/santiagomayer_/status/1453214832803516417\u00a0\u2026— Wajahat Ali (@Wajahat Ali) 1635351438
\u201cHow many elections are they going to steal before we kill these people?\u201d Translation: Hello democracy, meet dumpster.https://twitter.com/santiagomayer_/status/1453214832803516417\u00a0\u2026— Kevin Windham (@Kevin Windham) 1635344637
This guy during a Turning Point USA event openly calling for political violence against Democrats.\n\nThis is horrifying but is our new normal.\n\nJanuary 6 ushered in what I believe will be a sustained period of politically-motivated violence in the USAhttps://twitter.com/i/status/1453214832803516417\u00a0\u2026— Bryan Schott (@Bryan Schott) 1635342000
So living in Maga country I\u2019m wondering if I need to like put a blue line sticker on my car or something to try and blend in and not get killed when they do start shooting. They\u2019re radicalized and armed. This will not end well.https://twitter.com/santiagomayer_/status/1453214832803516417\u00a0\u2026— kris n. (@kris n.) 1635332440
Wow this guy should be arrested this isn\u2019t funny this is warped! This is not a joke, ppl like this need to be dealt with not ignored!https://twitter.com/santiagomayer_/status/1453214832803516417\u00a0\u2026— Melissce (@Melissce) 1635344875
Kirk's halfhearted denouncement wasn't well-received either.
Charlie Kirk, one of my GOP relatives' favorite media figures, glimpses the fact that his rhetoric is inspiring his followers to advocate for MASS SLAUGHTER and EXECUTIONS - and then blames it all on liberals.https://twitter.com/santiagomayer_/status/1453214832803516417\u00a0\u2026— Steve Silberman (@Steve Silberman) 1635353235
Charlie denounces this not because it's legally and morally wrong, but because it's bad optics. What an ass.https://twitter.com/santiagomayer_/status/1453214832803516417\u00a0\u2026— Gary Legum (@Gary Legum) 1635346501
Notice that he didn\u2019t denounce it because it was violent or wrong, but because saying it publicly was bad political strategy. \n\nJoin the movement to defeat Charlie Kirk -> @VotersTomorrow.— Santiago Mayer (@Santiago Mayer) 1635308907
Because, as others pointed out, Kirk and right-wing figures like him are mobilizing Americans to violence in the first place.
Charlie Kirk may have "denounced" the guy who called for killing Dems. But the problem is, with every one of the lies and conspiracy theories Kirk is feeding his fans, about Dems threatening their lives and rigging their elections, killing Dems is the logical conclusion!https://twitter.com/santiagomayer_/status/1453214832803516417\u00a0\u2026— Matthew Chapman (@Matthew Chapman) 1635334929
"When do we get to use the guns? ...This is not a joke....How many elections are they going to steal before we kill these people?"\n\n(Crowd cheered...)\n\nYou can't denounce this after you created it...https://twitter.com/santiagomayer_/status/1453214832803516417\u00a0\u2026— (((Howard Forman))) (@(((Howard Forman)))) 1635341673
Rightoids: "The left stole the election! They want to kill you and your family! We live under fascism!"\n\nTheir fans: "Ok, so when do we get to k*ll them?"\n\nRightoids: https://twitter.com/santiagomayer_/status/1453214832803516417\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/uVAden0c8T— \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8Ali \ud83e\udd85\u2694\ufe0f (@\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8Ali \ud83e\udd85\u2694\ufe0f) 1635348120
Kirk and his ilk continue to travel the country peddling dangerous lies.
