The governor of Maine, the state’s congressional delegation and leaders of the Maine Republican Party are reacting to the shooting that killed conservative political activist Charlie Kirk.Kirk was fatally shot Wednesday while speaking at a debate hosted by his nonprofit political organization, Turning Point USA, on the campus of Utah Valley University.Republican Sen. Susan Collins, Maine’s senior U.S. senator, spoke with members of the media shortly after the shooting happened.”I am very upset at the shooting of Charlie Kirk. He’s a father with young children. He travels to college campuses to interact with young people. He’s a wonderful person, and this is just appalling,” Collins said.Kirk, 31, is survived by his wife, Erika, and their two children.The other members of Maine’s congressional delegation and Gov. Janet Mills issued statements on social media before President Donald Trump announced Kirk had died.”If someone can be shot for views you detest, then they can be shot for views you hold dear. That’s why a free nation cannot tolerate political violence,” said Congressman Jared Golden.”Political violence has no place in our country. Not now, not ever. I’m horrified by this vicious attack,” said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree. “Our college campuses should be places where open dialogue, debate, and mutual respect are upheld. This kind of intimidation and violence must be condemned in the strongest terms.””In America, differing views — regardless of who holds them and how much you may detest them — should never be met with violence. I am horrified by what has happened to Charlie Kirk,” Mills said.”Political violence goes against the democratic values of our nation. This isn’t about Democrats and Republicans. It’s about protecting the ideals in our Constitution to peacefully assemble and exchange ideas. We can challenge each other’s views without violence. It’s common sense,” said Sen. Angus King.Republican leaders in the Maine Legislature said they were “shocked and heartbroken” by Kirk’s death, which they described as a “political assassination.””Our prayers are with Charlie’s wife and two young children. Charlie was a generational leader in the conservative youth movement whose impact cannot be overstated. As we await further information, we want to make one thing clear: Violence of any kind, especially politically motivated violence, has no place in our society. Our country has seen enough political violence. We stand united in condemning this heinous act and denouncing anyone who celebrates it,” the statement reads.Maine Republican Party Chairman Jim Deyermond also issued a statement of condolences to Kirk’s family, friends and loved ones on behalf of the Maine GOP.”A good Christian man, unafraid to boldly proclaim his beliefs and who captured the hearts of millions of young Americans through civil discourse, is gone,” Deyermond said. “I want to be clear, the political rhetoric in our nation has gone too far and is leading to greater political violence. It is incumbent upon all of us to think before we speak and to demand better for the generations that follow us. God bless Charlie and God bless America.”The mayor of Orem, Utah, where Utah Valley University’s campus is located, said the suspected shooter has not been arrested. A person familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press that a person who was taken into custody by law enforcement at the university was not the suspect.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
The governor of Maine, the state’s congressional delegation and leaders of the Maine Republican Party are reacting to the shooting that killed conservative political activist Charlie Kirk.
Kirk was fatally shot Wednesday while speaking at a debate hosted by his nonprofit political organization, Turning Point USA, on the campus of Utah Valley University.
Republican Sen. Susan Collins, Maine’s senior U.S. senator, spoke with members of the media shortly after the shooting happened.
“I am very upset at the shooting of Charlie Kirk. He’s a father with young children. He travels to college campuses to interact with young people. He’s a wonderful person, and this is just appalling,” Collins said.
Kirk, 31, is survived by his wife, Erika, and their two children.
The other members of Maine’s congressional delegation and Gov. Janet Mills issued statements on social media before President Donald Trump announced Kirk had died.
“If someone can be shot for views you detest, then they can be shot for views you hold dear. That’s why a free nation cannot tolerate political violence,” said Congressman Jared Golden.
“Political violence has no place in our country. Not now, not ever. I’m horrified by this vicious attack,” said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree. “Our college campuses should be places where open dialogue, debate, and mutual respect are upheld. This kind of intimidation and violence must be condemned in the strongest terms.”
“In America, differing views — regardless of who holds them and how much you may detest them — should never be met with violence. I am horrified by what has happened to Charlie Kirk,” Mills said.
“Political violence goes against the democratic values of our nation. This isn’t about Democrats and Republicans. It’s about protecting the ideals in our Constitution to peacefully assemble and exchange ideas. We can challenge each other’s views without violence. It’s common sense,” said Sen. Angus King.
Republican leaders in the Maine Legislature said they were “shocked and heartbroken” by Kirk’s death, which they described as a “political assassination.”
“Our prayers are with Charlie’s wife and two young children. Charlie was a generational leader in the conservative youth movement whose impact cannot be overstated. As we await further information, we want to make one thing clear: Violence of any kind, especially politically motivated violence, has no place in our society. Our country has seen enough political violence. We stand united in condemning this heinous act and denouncing anyone who celebrates it,” the statement reads.
Maine Republican Party Chairman Jim Deyermond also issued a statement of condolences to Kirk’s family, friends and loved ones on behalf of the Maine GOP.
“A good Christian man, unafraid to boldly proclaim his beliefs and who captured the hearts of millions of young Americans through civil discourse, is gone,” Deyermond said. “I want to be clear, the political rhetoric in our nation has gone too far and is leading to greater political violence. It is incumbent upon all of us to think before we speak and to demand better for the generations that follow us. God bless Charlie and God bless America.”
The mayor of Orem, Utah, where Utah Valley University’s campus is located, said the suspected shooter has not been arrested. A person familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press that a person who was taken into custody by law enforcement at the university was not the suspect.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.