Charlie Kirk: A Martyr for Free Speech and Faith in an Age of Cancel Culture and One-Sided Violence. There has been much written on this subject but I want to add my voice in tribute to this man.

On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was tragically assassinated at Utah Valley University during the kickoff of his “American Comeback Tour.” Shot in the neck by 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, a left-leaning and clearly highly disturbed individual who confessed to killing Kirk over ideological hatred. This act was a direct assault on free speech and the faith that defined Kirk’s life. If he is the actual killer, Robinson’s actions, fueled by a digital echo chamber branding Kirk a purveyor of “hate,” turned words into a death sentence. This blow struck at the heart of open discourse and Christian conviction.
But his death amplifies those views a 1000 times over. Charlie Kirk was not just a conservative firebrand; he was a devout Christian whose faith in God was the cornerstone of his life. He believed his religion was paramount, guiding his mission to defend free speech and conservative values. Kirk frequently wove Scripture into his debates on college campuses, using verses like Proverbs 28:1, “The righteous are bold as a lion,” to embolden young conservatives to stand firm in their beliefs. Whether facing swearing hecklers or hostile crowds, he responded with grace, facts, and biblical wisdom, never violence. He was a man of peace, a Godly man, and an inspiration to millions.

His platform was rooted in the conviction that America’s moral foundation rested on Christian principles. Kirk’s death, dying for what he said and believed, proves that free speech and faith can carry a heavy cost in today’s polarized world. Political violence has surged, with over 520 plots and acts in the first half of 2025 alone, claiming 96 lives.
The asymmetry in this violence is stark. The left, quick to label conservatives like Kirk as “Nazis” or “Fascists,” has repeatedly turned to destructive force. The 2020 riots following George Floyd’s death saw over $2 billion in damages. Businesses were looted or burned, and at least 25 deaths occurred. Pointless chaos masquerading as dissent does not fit with Charlie Kirks beliefs. These acts, often organized and fueled by left-wing rhetoric, targeted innocents and infrastructure alike.
In contrast, Kirk’s supporters have responded to his assassination with peace. From candlelight vigils at Orem City Center Park in Utah, where hundreds gathered amid flowers and American flags, to prayer services at the U.S. Capitol attended by Republicans and some Democrats, to the spectacle at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.The response has been one of faith and unity. Thousands have joined peaceful prayer vigils in London, Berlin, and Madrid, reciting Psalms and honoring a Godly family man, a devoted husband to Erika and father to his two young children. As one Utah vigil attendee said, “Charlie would want us to choose love and Scripture over violence.” Kirk lived this, debating peacefully despite hostility, his Bible always at the ready.

The two sides are not the same. The left’s pattern of violence from the Floyd riots to Robinson’s targeted assassination stands in sharp contrast to the right’s restraint. While some leftists celebrated Kirk’s death online, disrupting vigils with vitriol like “F*ck Trump,” conservatives have filled stadiums for memorials, praying and vowing to continue Kirk’s peaceful, faith-driven advocacy.
Yet, a disturbing backlash has emerged. Some who mocked Kirk’s death on platforms like X, calling it “justice” for his views, now face “cancellation” calls for firings, doxxing, and ostracism. This outrage, while understandable, risks mirroring the intolerance it condemns. If we denounce Robinson for silencing Kirk violently, we must also protect others’ right to speak, however callous their words. The hypocrisy lies in the left’s escalation from demonizing rhetoric to deadly action, while Kirk’s side clings to prayer and principle.

This tragedy forces us to confront the line between free speech and hate speech that incites violence. The First Amendment protects a wide range of expression, from Kirk’s Scripture-backed critiques of “woke” culture to the venom of his detractors. Everyone should be free to voice their beliefs and feelings that’s the essence of a free society. But “pure filth” crosses a line when it directly incites harm. Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969) defines speech as protected unless it is intended and is likely to produce imminent lawless action. Kirk’s words, grounded in faith, never met that threshold; they sparked debate, not violence. Robinson’s hatred, fueled by left-wing rhetoric equating conservatives to fascists, did.

The left’s selective outrage and violent tendencies bear disproportionate blame. These include funding radical groups and celebrating tragedies. Kirk’s faith taught him to love his enemies, as in Matthew 5:44: “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” yet he faced hatred for his boldness. Cancel culture, wielded against those who grieve or speak freely, mimics the intolerance it claims to fight. True change comes through faith and dialogue, not destruction. Listen to Charlie Kirk in his own words. He made so many podcasts and debated so many with differing views. It is all preserved so you can hear what he actually said.

What conclusion can we draw? Charlie Kirk’s death is a call to defend free speech and faith against a violent left that seeks to silence both. We must protect all voices, even those we find vile, while condemning true incitement and violence. Kirk’s legacy, rooted in God, family, and fearless debate, urges us to choose Scripture over swords, vigils over vengeance. Let us honor this Godly martyr by ensuring no one else dies for their words or beliefs. In a nation divided, the path forward is prayer, dialogue, and unwavering commitment to truth. If we fail, the shooters’ literal and figurative will prevail. This truly is a battle between good and evil.

As Elon Musk said, “Charlie Kirk was showing people the light. And he was killed by the darkness.” The left has devolved into violence. Somehow, this has become normal on the left. How did this happen?
Charlie Kirk was turning the ship around, one campus at a time. Don’t let his work disappear. We are all Charlie Kirk.

Copyright©. 2025 Bonnie B. Matheson