The world is still in shock over the assassination of the conservative activist Charlie Kirk. He was tragically shot dead on Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University. Kirk was only 31 years-old. His assassin was finally apprehended on Friday after a massive two day manhunt.
In the days since Kirk’s brutal murder, the silence from much of liberal Hollywood has been deafening. That’s why it’s come as a relief that the former Dukes of Hazzard star John Schneider is defying leftwing Hollywood to pay tribute to Kirk.
Schneider Honors Kirk After His Assassination
Schneider, 65, told Fox News that he doesn’t believe that Kirk’s assassination will silence conservative voices. Instead, he thinks that conservatives will be “louder and prouder” than ever.
“I think Charlie’s example is going to be vast, I think it already is,” Schneider said. He’s “seen it in some of the young folks, young political activists.”
“I think perhaps other people thought it would quiet people down, but I don’t think it’s going to,” he continued. “I think we’re gonna be louder and prouder, I hate to think of Charlie as a martyr, but I’m afraid that’s what Charlie is now.”
Schneider went on to say that he’s working on a new song called “Charlie’s Voice.” Indeed, he believes that Kirk’s message will not go away.
“In fact, it is going to be louder than ever before,” Schneider stated. “And we’ll all be better people if we start using Charlie’s voice.”
Schneider’s Hopes For The Future
Though Kirk’s assassination is an unspeakable tragedy, Schneider is hopeful that it’ll bring some unity to a divided nation.
“So yeah, I hope, I pray, I do believe intellectually that this will bring people together to at least discuss their differences,” Schneider added. “Now, if we live in a world where a difference of opinion is a murderable offense, then this is not the United States of America.”
“It’s not the United States of America that my father fought for, my grandfather, it is not the United States of America of our forefathers… envisioned,” he acknowledged. “So we have to get back to that.”
Schneider believes that the only way to “get back to that” is open discourse. This is something that Kirk was extremely passionate about.
“He’s gonna be remembered for this,” Schneider lamented. “What a terrible thing. What a terrible, terrible thing. But we can’t, we can’t let it shut us up. You know, if somebody out there thinks that they were gonna raise a generation of now 22-year-olds that will shut up conservative thought and conservative speech, they were wrong. That’s not gonna happen, nor should it.”
“And it should also not shut up liberal speech,” Schneider concluded. “We’re supposed to be free to think and speak about what we want, not hate speech. I get that. But we’re supposed to be free to have a conversation like you and I are having. And apparently, you can get a death sentence for that. That’s not America.”
Kirk’s History
Kirk was only 18 years-old when he founded Turning Point USA back in 2012. This is a conservative organization that is popular on college campuses around the country. Kirk was known for playing a huge role in mobilizing young voters to vote for Donald Trump in last year’s presidential election.
“One of the reasons why we got Trump is Charlie Kirk,” the former Fox News host Megyn Kelly said after Kirk’s death. “We all play our part in some small way, but there is no denying the effect Charlie Kirk had on this election.”
Trump took to Truth Social to honor Kirk immediately after his death was announced.
“No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie,” Trump wrote. “He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”
What happened to Kirk is nothing short of horrifying, and should be universally condemned regardless of politics. We applaud Schneider for taking the time to honor Kirk’s memory when so many of his fellow celebrities are staying silent.
Kirk is survived by his wife Erika and by their two young children. Please join us in saying a prayer for them.
Rest in peace, Charlie Kirk.