I don’t have much to share on the death of Charlie Kirk beyond what I suspect is obvious. We want a society where political participation and activism, even things with which we disagree or that we find despicable, can take place without threat of violence. It is not only a general belief that we do not want people to be injured or die by violence. It is the basis of society and the political order in which we want to live and which, at this very moment, is under a more serious threat than any time in our lives.
Right violence, both of an organized paramilitary type and by radicalized solitary, has become such a scourge in recent years that on extremes, you hear voices for things like the armed versions of Antifa and others as a kind of meter. My point is not to assimilate the two. It is a question of noting that when the elections, speeches and non -violent political activism give way to paramilitary and political violence, the forces of civic democracy have already lost the battle. Fascists do better civilian violence than civic democrats. It is a fundamental element of their political philosophy. It is the verdict of logic and history.
I also know the impact of the sudden death of a young parent of personal experience. Totally devastating for children and certainly for a spouse. People should be exempt from this concern and this reality, whatever you think, whatever their policy. I am really sorry and extremely sorry for the loss of his family.
There is a good chance that we know much more about what happened, which did and at least moreover why in the coming hours. But for the moment, we know almost nothing. And it is not only a disposable line, something that is similar to a reminder that people are innocent until they are proven guilty and all that. The only thing we know about this shooter, or at least the only thing that has been reported reliably (from the university) to be that the shooter hit Kirk with a deadly neck from a building at 200 meters. It is a carefully planned assassination and someone’s work that is at least experienced with a long pistol and a range. You don’t need to be the best sniper in the world to do so. But you need a real experience. The fact that the shooter was not quickly apprehended in the face of what must be a massive man hunt also suggests real planning. That these facts end up being essential to the global history that we do not know. But they can be.
For the reasons that I have stated above and that you certainly do not need me to tell you that we must resolutely against political assassination and political violence of all kinds. We must also remain resolved against all those who try to exploit acts of political violence as a pretext for the repression of their political enemies. We already see Twitter and other places of social media of the right overflowing with requests for this. He is not only wise politically but just and essential on the merits to condemn this blatant act anyone who turns out to be behind. There is no logic to give an inch or a quarter to those who try to make a moment Reichstag for the Donald Trump’s in progress campaign.
