A number of Democrats joined with Republicans for a resolution that honored the life of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, following his assassination at a political event at Utah Valley University last week. But very few of them came from the Congressional Black Caucus.
According to Politico, the Black Caucus put out a statement that "denounced political violence and the killing of Kirk, but said individuals must condemn violence 'without abandoning our right to speak out against ideas that are inconsistent with our values as Americans.'"
The caucus further stated that Kirk held “racist, harmful, and fundamentally un-American” beliefs that would be inappropriately be dignified by supporting the resolution.
Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and a key contributor to President Donald Trump's voter canvassing operation last year, has a long history of inflammatory and controversial statements on race.
Among many other things, he said passing the 1964 Civil Rights Act that guaranteed Black people a right to integrated public accommodation was a "mistake," repeatedly attacked Dr. Martin Luther King, has said that "prowling Blacks go around for fun to go target white people" in cities, said he believes airlines are endangering passengers with unqualified Black pilots hired to meet quotas, and paid tribute to a pastor who claimed slavery was a godly institution.
The killing of Kirk triggered a political firestorm around the country, and though both Democrats and Republicans alike were quick to condemn the crime, far-right voices all around the media began blaming the left before the manhunt for the killer had even concluded.
