SAN ANTONIO — SAN ANTONIO — The death of Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and founder of the “Turning Point USA” movement, has sent shockwaves across the nation.
Kirk was known for advocating conservative politics on high school and college campuses. His recent assassination has sparked a national conversation on political violence.
In San Antonio, a planned campaign rally by Democratic Texas State Representative James Talarico was repurposed into a discussion on the issue.
Talarico, who is campaigning for a U.S. Senate seat, condemned the violence, saying, “This latest political assassination comes just three months after the Democratic Speaker of the Minnesota State House was shot and killed in her home. Political violence has no place in America.”
Talarico expressed his sadness over Kirk’s death, noting that while he disagreed with Kirk on many political issues, he was saddened that Kirk’s wife and children are now left without a father. “No one should be killed over their political beliefs,” he said.
Attendees at the event echoed Talarico’s sentiments. Darlene Kilpatrick described the violence as “horrific,” adding, “He’s not the first; it’s not excusable for anyone, not even a politician, even if I don’t agree with him.”
Local radio host Joe Pagliarulo, known as Joe Pags, shared his personal connection to Kirk, saying, “It hasn’t registered yet that Charlie is gone, and I don’t get it. And yes, a personal friend of mine, yes, he’s been on my show many times. I was at his event in Dallas just earlier this year.” Pagliarulo reminisced about their shared past, saying, “We were kindred spirits, because we both played woodwinds in high school. He was a bass clarinet player in high school. We were a couple of band dorks.”
Bexar County GOP Co-Chair Kyle Sinclair also condemned the violence, stating, “Politics has become very, very divided in this nation, and you’re seeing rise-ups of crime and to the point of taking someone else’s life, or in the trying to take somebody’s life.”
Despite the tragedy, Talarico decided to proceed with the event, emphasizing the importance of unity in the face of political violence.