Former Leftist Amala Ekpunobi Addresses Those Leaving the Left After Charlie Kirk Assassination Responses
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Former Leftist Amala Ekpunobi Addresses Those Leaving the Left After Charlie Kirk Assassination Responses
Amala Ekpunobi reaches out to those considering leaving the left after witnessing the disturbing celebrations of Charlie Kirk's assassination. Drawing from personal experience of walking away from leftist ideology years ago, this commentary addresses the shock many are feeling as they watch their political community celebrate political violence. For those who find themselves questioning whether the left still represents their values, this message offers perspective on the difficulty of admitting you were wrong and the importance of following your moral compass when something doesn't sit right.
The assassination of Charlie Kirk has sparked not only national grief but also a crisis of conscience for many on the political left. As celebrations of his death flooded social media, a different response emerged from an unexpected place: leftists themselves, horrified by what they were witnessing from their own political community.
As someone who left the left years ago, I recognize the internal conflict many are experiencing right now. I'm not here to recruit anyone to a new political label or party. I'm here to tell you that if you're feeling like the left no longer represents who you are as a person, you should follow that feeling. Don't let judgment stop you from exploring those doubts. The extreme celebratory response to Charlie Kirk's death is not an aberration—it's indicative of leftist ideology at its core. If it doesn't sit right with you, it's because leftism itself doesn't sit right with you.
The Responses That Sparked a Reckoning
Videos have been circulating of people publicly announcing their departure from the left. One man stated he's been part of the left for seven years but can no longer support a party that promotes violence against political opponents. He pointed out the fundamental hypocrisy: claiming moral superiority while arguing that political beliefs are more important than human life.
A young woman posted a video of herself crying over Charlie Kirk's death, calling him names she'd used before but admitting she couldn't accept political violence. The response from the left was swift and brutal—thousands of comments attacking her, asking how she could cry for a "neo-Nazi" or "fascist." This is the pattern: the moment you question the narrative, even while maintaining you're still a liberal, you're cast out and labeled.
Another viral video showed someone declaring they quit being liberal specifically because of the responses to Kirk's assassination. The celebrations, the jokes about hoping "the gun is okay," the complete loss of human decency—it was the last straw. This person warned other public conservative figures to stop doing public panels because "these people are insane."
My Own Journey Away From the Left
I understand this crisis intimately because I lived it. I have a tattoo on my arm—a black power fist with the word "speak" above it—that I got years ago when I was certain I would always stand for leftist ideology. I thought I would never leave this side, so why not make it permanent? Now I carry that reminder of how wrong I was.
The realization came gradually. I discovered that the side claiming to be tolerant was not tolerant. They claimed to want coexistence but had no interest in it. They claimed to be anti-racist while promoting some of the most racist ideology I'd ever encountered. And when I raised my hand to ask questions—not to leave, just to question—there was no room for dialogue. Only judgment, ostracism, and being called a neo-Nazi or fascist for daring to be skeptical.
The hardest phrases to say are "I don't know" and "I was wrong." But I can say wholeheartedly now: I was wrong when I was on the left. I was full of hatred, though nowhere near the level I'm witnessing now in response to Kirk's assassination. The left has reached a new human low, and if you're looking at this level of depravity and thinking you were wrong to be part of this group, shout it from the rooftops. It's okay to be wrong. It's actually a gift to be wrong about something like this because it proves you're engaged with humanity, that you have compassion, integrity, and a moral compass.
The Hypocrisy at the Core
Consider the contradiction: a group claiming to be anti-authoritarian, anti-totalitarian, and anti-fascist is now cheering the death of someone who disagreed with them politically and calling for more deaths. What does this mean for free speech—one of the first things attacked by totalitarian regimes? What does it say about the congruence between their stated ideology and how they actually live out their values?
These individuals claim to be tolerant and want to coexist, yet they're literally calling for the end of existence of people like Charlie Kirk and others who share his values. People are calling for other conservatives to show up at college campuses so they can "meet the same fate" as Kirk. If you once associated with this group and don't want to be part of that, then don't be part of it.
Following the Whisper
Sometimes it's just a whisper in the back of your head, and it's easy to shut it up and continue on the side you're on, no matter how destructive or distasteful. But listen to that whisper. If the whisper is telling you that you shouldn't cheer on the death of your political opponents, the whisper is probably right.
Even some leftists with platforms are speaking out. Parker, a young leftist debater, put out a message telling people that if they're calling for or accepting this violence, they should unfollow him. It's necessary to call these people out, and if you're struggling internally with everything happening right now, you're not alone. It's okay to leave these people behind. It's okay to admit you were on the wrong side of things.
What Comes Next
I'm not welcoming you to a new political party. I'm welcoming you to a space where you can think freely and speak freely, where people are willing to hear you out and have actual conversations. This is what Charlie Kirk was attempting to do every day with Turning Point USA and his college visits—create dialogue, even with people who disagreed with him.
If you're a left-leaning person considering leaving, or if you've already left either now or in the past, share your story. What was your turning point? If you're a leftist who disagrees with the celebratory response to Kirk's death but remain on the left, share your perspective. There is room for conversation and back and forth. That's what Charlie was trying to do, and that's what we'll continue to do.
To those responding in despicable ways, judging those who are leaving, judging those who have their humanity intact and are crying and sharing their sorrow regardless of whether they agreed with Charlie politically—you need to do some soul-searching, introspection, maybe therapy. Something. Because what you need is help.
For those leaving the left, welcome to a space of open conversation and free thinking. What you're doing is very difficult, especially with how much judgment exists right now. But your humanity is intact, and that matters more than any political label ever could.
