DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau) — The killing of one of the country’s most prominent conservative influencers rattled people across the country. Charlie Kirk died doing what he did so often: engaging with people while sharing his conservative politics.
A 22-year-old man is accused of firing a single shot on Wednesday during an event at Utah Valley University and mortally wounding Kirk.
Several thousand people had gathered to listen to Kirk. Some showed up to spar with him as Kirk would frequently go to college campuses and go back-and-forth in spirited discussions about the role of women, abortion, civil rights, and foreign policy.
Kirk was revered by some conservatives and intensely disliked by liberals.
There are investigations underway in Iowa because of social media posts linked to public school teachers who seemed to celebrate Kirk’s death.
That included an Oskaloosa teacher who faces a hearing by the school board Wednesday night. The board will determine whether to follow the superintendent’s recommendation to fire the teacher for violating district policy with the post that included “1 Nazi down.”
The incident could attract more attention to what people post on social media and not just because of reactions to Kirk.
Reaction to other acts of recent political violence has also been intense, such as after the shooting during a Donald Trump rally; the man who impersonated law enforcement and targeted and shot two Democratic legislators and their spouses in Minnesota; and the man who attacked the husband of former U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
While Kirk was not a politician, he was a political figure. His death may give elected officials and candidates pause in determining what type of public events they are willing to do amid fears for their safety.
About the author: Midwest native Dave Price is Gray Television’s Iowa Political Director for nine stations that broadcast in the state and has been covering local, state and national politics from Iowa since 2001.
Dave produces and hosts “Inside Iowa Politics,” a weekly, in-depth show focused on interviews with top leaders on politics, issues, challenges and solutions that impact the state.
He has written two books about the Iowa Caucuses (“Caucus Chaos” and “Caucus Chaos Trump”). Email him at dave.price@gray.tv. Follow him on X (Twitter): @idaveprice Meta/Facebook: DavePriceNews Instagram: idaveprice and LinkedIn: Dave Price.
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