Charlie Kirk Fatally Shot at Utah Valley University as Officials and Scholars React to the Assassination

[00:00] And we begin tonight with breaking news with what

[00:02] investigators in Utah are calling a political assassination.

[00:06] Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while

[00:08] speaking at an event at Utah Valley University.

[00:11] Good evening.

[00:12] I'm Bernan Gurley.

[00:14] It happened in broad daylight at an event at

[00:16] Utah Valley University as Charlie Kirk addressed the crowd,

[00:19] a single fatal shot was fired.

[00:21] Video shows security rushing 31 year old Kirk to

[00:24] the hospital and the panicked crowd running for cover.

[00:28] up top,

[00:28] I just saw him grab it looked like his neck

[00:31] and there's just blood pouring out everywhere,

[00:33] and his eyes kind of rolled back,

[00:35] traumatizing,

[00:36] like,

[00:36] you know,

[00:37] it,

[00:37] it scares like I don't even want to go to school tomorrow.

[00:41] President Trump confirmed the death on Truth Social.

[00:44] Kirk was a rising star in conservative politics and fierce ally of the president's.

[00:49] He was a co-founder of Turning Point USA,

[00:51] which advocates for conservative politics on university campuses.

[00:56] About an hour ago,

[00:56] President Trump has instructed that flags be

[00:59] flown at half-staff to honor his memory.

[01:02] Texas Governor Greg Abbott released a statement tonight.

[01:04] He said in part,

[01:05] quote,

[01:06] Charlie's voice was a beacon for millions of young Americans searching for truth,

[01:10] courage,

[01:10] and conviction.

[01:12] The senseless act of violence has no place in America.

[01:15] Our prayers are with Charlie's family and his loved ones,

[01:17] especially the two young children he leaves behind.

[01:20] Texas stands with them in mourning and in honoring Charlie's enduring legacy,

[01:24] unquote.

[01:25] East Texas State Representative Jay Dean is condemning the attack against Kirk.

[01:30] He posted on social media saying in part,

[01:32] quote,

[01:32] I'm absolutely horrified and devastated at the senseless

[01:35] murder of conservative Speaker Charlie Kirk today.

[01:38] A strong opinion should never be a death sentence in a free country.

[01:43] We now want to bring in Doctor John Barrett,

[01:45] a political science professor at Laternno University.

[01:48] Doctor Barrett,

[01:48] thanks for being here with us.

[01:50] What is your initial reaction to this heartbreaking

[01:52] news of Charlie Kirk's shooting and subsequent death?

[01:55] It's,

[01:56] it's really very sad,

[01:57] you know,

[01:58] I,

[01:58] I remember a time when people would use this

[02:01] phrase that I completely disagree with what you say,

[02:04] but I'll fight to the death to defend your right to say it,

[02:07] and it feels like as a culture we've lost that.

[02:11] This idea that freedom of speech means we're we're

[02:13] going to disagree and that's and that's OK and I

[02:17] I I feel bad for college students these days that

[02:20] you've got that kind of lurking in the background.

[02:23] And Doctor Barrett,

[02:24] you know,

[02:24] beyond the politics,

[02:25] whether you're on the left side or the right side,

[02:28] what does this kind of violence say about the state of our society right now?

[02:32] Well,

[02:32] it's certainly an indicator of growing polarization,

[02:35] you know,

[02:36] Charlie Kirk didn't hold office,

[02:38] you know,

[02:39] he didn't wield any power directly.

[02:41] He was just an activist,

[02:42] someone who went out there and tried to engage with college students and so

[02:47] again it just is an indicator of how

[02:50] intense the the political rhetoric is these days.

[02:54] Now we know that he's a young man,

[02:56] 31 years old.

[02:57] He leaves behind a wife,

[02:58] two young children,

[02:59] and also loving family and friends.

[03:01] What do you think Charlie Kirk's legacy will

[03:02] be both within the conservative movement and beyond?

[03:06] Well,

[03:07] he was certainly an indicator of some

[03:10] transformations that have gone on in conservative politics,

[03:14] you know,

[03:14] kind of a shift away from the old school Reagan conservatism to the,

[03:18] you know,

[03:18] Trump conservatism of of populism,

[03:21] and so he's he's definitely an indicator of that he was,

[03:23] he was a new type of

[03:25] young conservative activist,

[03:27] you know,

[03:27] not just in how we approached things through social media,

[03:31] but the,

[03:31] the type of conservative politics that he championed was also different.

[03:35] And Doctor Barrett,

[03:36] lastly,

[03:36] in light of this tragedy,

[03:38] what do you believe needs to change in the tone of political discourse nationwide?

[03:43] Well,

[03:43] I,

[03:44] I think as a society we need to get

[03:46] better at listening to each other and and simply agreeing

[03:50] to disagree and just trusting that the system that

[03:53] the process can kind of work its way out.

[03:56] That's that's a lot of what we do at Latrina we try to have

[03:58] these very frank conversations and I think

[04:01] that's a very important skill to cultivate.

[04:03] Alrighty,

[04:03] Doctor John Barrett,

[04:04] thank you for your insight.