WASHINGTON (AP) — The fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at an occasion in Utah had specific resonance for public figures who’ve skilled political violence themselves.
Kirk, who served as chief government and cofounder of the youth group Turning Level USA, made frequent appearances on school campuses and in different settings, partaking in political dialogue with college students in public settings.
A number of leaders who’ve survived public assaults or had relations victimized joined in bipartisan condemnation of the assault on Kirk.
Nancy Pelosi
The previous Home speaker’s husband was significantly injured at their California dwelling in 2022 by a man wielding a hammer, who authorities mentioned was a believer in conspiracy theories.
Pelosi, a Democrat, posted that “the horrific capturing right now at Utah Valley College is reprehensible. Political violence has completely no place in our nation.”
Donald Trump
The president sustained a minor ear harm when he was shot at a campaign event final 12 months. He was additionally the goal of a failed assassination attempt whereas enjoying golf in Florida. He had an in depth relationship with Kirk and introduced his passing Wednesday on his Reality Social web site.
Trump described Kirk on Reality Social as a “nice man from high to backside. GOD BLESS HIM!”
He additionally posted, “Nobody understood or had the Coronary heart of the Youth in the US of America higher than Charlie.”
Gabrielle Giffords
The former U.S. representative, a Democrat, suffered a critical mind harm from a 2011 capturing whereas assembly with constituents at a shopping mall in her Arizona congressional district. She survived and has taken up the reason for fighting gun violence.
Giffords posted on social media that she was “horrified” to listen to of Kirk’s capturing.
“Democratic societies will all the time have political disagreements,” she wrote, “however we must not ever enable America to change into a rustic that confronts these disagreements with violence.”
Steve Scalise
The House majority leader, a Louisiana Republican, was shot at practice for a charity baseball recreation involving members of Congress within the Virginia suburbs in 2017. The person who attacked Scalise had grievances towards Trump and Republicans and was later fatally shot by police.
Scalise requested individuals on the social media platform X to “please be a part of me in praying for Charlie Kirk after this mindless act.”
Josh Shapiro
The Pennsylvania governor, a Democrat and potential nationwide candidate, was evacuated together with his household from the governor’s mansion earlier this 12 months after a person broke into the building and set a fire that prompted important injury.
“We should communicate with ethical readability,” Shapiro wrote on X. “The assault on Charlie Kirk is horrifying and this rising sort of unconscionable violence can’t be allowed in our society.”
Gretchen Whitmer
The Michigan governor, a Democrat, was the topic of a failed kidnapping plot by right-wing extremists who hoped to ignite a civil struggle. Two males have been imprisoned for his or her 2020 try to kidnap the governor throughout her first time period.
“We must always all come collectively to face up towards any and all types of political violence,” Whitmer wrote on social media.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The Health and Human Services secretary appeared to invoke his household’s losses as he reacted to Kirk’s killing. Kennedy’s father, for whom he was named, was assassinated in 1968 as he sought the Democratic presidential nomination. Kennedy Sr. was an outspoken critic of the Vietnam Warfare and an advocate for civil rights laws as lawyer normal throughout his brother’s presidency and after John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963.
“As soon as once more, a bullet has silenced probably the most eloquent fact teller of an period,” Kennedy wrote on social media. He referred to as Kirk a “relentless and brave crusader at no cost speech.”
