The State of America in the Wake of Charlie Kirk's Death: Rhetoric, Religion, and the Reality of Violence

By Carlos Chaverst Jr. September 15, 2025

The assassination of Charlie Kirk on September 11, 2025, during an event at Utah Valley University has sent shockwaves through the nation. As the founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent conservative voice, Kirk's death at the hands of suspect Tyler Robinson marks yet another grim chapter in America's escalating political tensions. Let me be unequivocal: violence is never the answer, and no one should lose their life for their beliefs or rhetoric. We at Burning Point USA condemn this act in the strongest terms. However, Kirk's passing provides a moment for reflection on the state of our divided nation—not to celebrate a tragedy, but to confront the hateful ideologies that continue to fester within it.

Kirk's legacy is complex, but it cannot be divorced from the racist rhetoric he propagated, often veiled under the guise of conservatism and religion. Racists in America have long hidden behind religious justifications, using selective interpretations of faith to shield bigotry from scrutiny. Kirk, who openly embraced Christian nationalist language, claimed that true liberty was only possible in a Christian society. In the aftermath of his death, his followers have rallied around this aspect of his persona, portraying him as a martyr for the faith and emphasizing the Bible verses he referenced in his speeches and social media posts. For instance, supporters highlight his declarations of belief in the Bible and Christ's resurrection as the "foundation of his faith," while downplaying or ignoring the divisive comments that alienated millions. Pastors and influencers have echoed Tertullian's ancient words, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church," framing his assassination as a call to "stand up in faith" rather than a reckoning with his harmful words. This selective memory conveniently overlooks how such religious cloaking has historically enabled racism, from the defense of slavery in the 19th century to modern-day white supremacist movements.

Nowhere is this more evident than in Kirk's repeated derogatory statements about Black people, which fueled division and perpetuated stereotypes. He denied the existence of systemic racism and dismissed "white privilege" as a "racist idea." In one infamous remark, Kirk claimed, "Happening all the time in urban America, prowling Blacks go around for fun to go target white people, that's a fact. It's happening more and more." He questioned the qualifications of Black professionals, stating, "If I see a Black pilot, I'm going to be like, 'Boy, I hope he's qualified.'" Kirk also demeaned Black women, wondering aloud if a "moronic Black woman" in customer service was there due to "affirmative action" rather than merit. In another instance, he accused prominent Black figures like Joy Reid, Michelle Obama, Sheila Jackson Lee, and Ketanji Brown Jackson of being "affirmative action picks," claiming they lacked "brain processing power" and had "stolen a white person's slot." These comments weren't isolated slips; they were part of a pattern that vilified Black Americans and downplayed issues like racial justice. His followers, in mourning, often pivot to his evangelical zeal—citing his use of platforms to "tell God's word"—while dismissing these statements as mere "boldness" in faith. This evasion highlights a broader issue: how religion is weaponized to sanitize hate, allowing racists to cloak their bigotry in scripture.

Yet, the hypocrisy extends further. In the wake of Kirk's death, right-wing figures have been quick to blame "left-wing radicals" for inciting political violence, with Attorney General Pam Bondi claiming they "will be held accountable." This narrative paints the left as the sole purveyors of such acts, ignoring that political violence has been woven into America's fabric since its inception—from the violent displacement of Indigenous peoples to the lynchings enforced by the Ku Klux Klan in the post-Civil War era. The right's selective amnesia conveniently forgets their own history of extremism.

Consider the litany of right-wing political violence in the U.S.:

• The Oklahoma City Bombing (1995): Timothy McVeigh, a far-right extremist motivated by anti-government sentiment, killed 168 people, including 19 children, in the deadliest act of domestic terrorism before 9/11.

• The Charleston Church Shooting (2015): White supremacist Dylann Roof murdered nine Black worshippers in a bid to ignite a race war, drawing from racist ideologies that echo those downplayed by figures like Kirk.

• The Charlottesville Unite the Right Rally (2017): Neo-Nazis and white nationalists clashed violently, resulting in the death of counter-protester Heather Heyer when a car plowed into the crowd.

• The El Paso Walmart Shooting (2019): A gunman targeting Latinos killed 23 people, inspired by the "Great Replacement" theory—a conspiracy Kirk himself promoted, which claims immigrants are "replacing" white Americans.

• The Buffalo Supermarket Shooting (2022): Another white supremacist, influenced by similar racist theories, killed 10 Black people in a grocery store.

• The January 6 Capitol Insurrection (2021): Far-right groups, including Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, stormed the U.S. Capitol to overturn the 2020 election, resulting in five deaths and over 140 injured officers. This event alone led to more than 1,200 arrests and convictions for seditious conspiracy.
  

These incidents, among dozens more documented by organizations like the Anti-Defamation League, show that far-right terrorism has been the leading domestic threat in recent years, responsible for the majority of extremist-related murders since 2010. Globally, right-wing extremists are more likely to engage in lethal violence compared to other groups. Yet, conservatives often "forget" these events, reframing them as isolated or blaming media bias, while amplifying rare left-wing acts to demonize opponents. This double standard erodes trust and perpetuates cycles of division.

Kirk's death, tragic as it is, underscores a nation at its boiling point—where rhetoric inflames, religion excuses, and violence begets more violence. Facts from the FBI indicate that domestic extremism, particularly from the far right, has surged, with over 2,700 investigations opened since 2020. To move forward, we must reject the sanitization of hate and demand accountability across the spectrum. America deserves better: honest dialogue, empathy for all cultures, and a commitment to unity over division. At Burning Point USA, we'll continue shining a light on these uncomfortable truths, because only by facing them can we heal.