Today should have been a wonderful day
Today should have been a wonderful day. I woke up excited for the opportunity to work with the Santa Cruz Republican Central Committee at their voter registration table at the Santa Cruz County Fair. While driving there, I turned on the radio and heard the news. Charlie Kirk, conservative activist, father of two, and founder of Turning Point USA, was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University. He was only 31 years old. The shooting, which occurred during a student Q&A session, was a targeted act of violence that left a young wife without her husband and two small children without their father.
This is not just a tragedy for one family. It is a wake up call for a nation teetering on the edge of ideological warfare.
Charlie Kirk built Turning Point USA from the ground up, transforming it into one of the most influential conservative youth organizations in America. He was a tireless advocate for free speech, going to college campuses throughout the country to debate controversial topics under banners that read “Prove Me Wrong.” He inspired thousands of young people to register to vote, get involved in politics and think critically about the future of the country.
Whether you agreed with his politics or not, Kirk was a man of conviction, a devoted Christian, and a loving husband and father. His murder is not just a political event, it is a human tragedy.
In recent years, political discourse has devolved into a dangerous game of demonization. Phrases like “words are violence” and “violence is necessary” have crept into mainstream rhetoric. Some media outlets and activists have suggested that certain groups, particularly gay and transgender Americans are being “erased” or “disappeared,” framing political disagreement as an existential threat.
This kind of language can escalate into justification for real world violence. When people are told that their very existence is under attack, some may feel morally licensed to retaliate not with debate, but with bullets.
Calling political opponents “Nazis,” “fascists,” or “threats to democracy” doesn’t just shut down conversation, it dehumanizes. History has shown us what happens when people are dehumanized.
We must remember that politics is supposed to be a contest of ideas, not identities. Disagreement is not oppression. Debate is not violence. And persuasion, not intimidation is the cornerstone of democracy.
Charlie Kirk understood this. He sat under tents on hostile campuses, answering tough questions, engaging with critics and defending his beliefs. He didn’t hide. He showed up and we can all learn something from his accomplishments and how he lived his life.
His assassination is a grotesque betrayal of the very principles that make civil society possible.
Charlie leaves behind his wife Erika and their two young children, a daughter and a son, ages three and one. They will grow up without their father. No political cause or ideological crusade can justify that kind of loss.
Politicians, pundits, and influencers on all sides must stop using incendiary language that paints opponents as enemies of humanity. Every time a leader implies that violence is justified, they hand a match to someone unstable. And eventually, someone lights it.
This is not about left or right. It’s about right and wrong.
I hope Charlie Kirk’s death can be a turning point. What’s happening in this country right now is not sustainable. We will eventually self destruct. I Hope the media and the politicians that feed into the divisiveness for ratings and click bait are listening.
Let us choose words over weapons. Ideas over insults. Peace over polarization.
We love you Charlie. We thank you for all that you so passionately fought for and for the goodwill and respect you offered all who you came in contact with, even if you did not agree with their opinions. We learned a lot from you and you will be greatly missed. May you rest in eternal peace.
Carol Pefley
