\u201cWe are now witnessing a symptom of a bigger problem \u2014 extreme tribalism,\u201d Beck\u2019s statement read. \u201cAs a society, we seek out reasons to be angry at each other, as opposed to starting from a place of commonality. My thoughts on political violence are clear. It cannot and should not be tolerated in this nation.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shortly after Kirk was shot in Utah, Beck posted on her personal social media a screenshot of a 2023 Newsweek headline that read, \u201cCharlie Kirk says gun deaths \u2018unfortunately\u2019 worth it to keep 2nd Amendment.\u201d Her post included the word \u201cunfortunate\u201d overlaid on a photo of Kirk.<\/p>\n
Beck deleted her post within an hour of Kirk being pronounced dead.<\/p>\n
Parker, a Republican, took to social media<\/a> Thursday afternoon to condemn Beck without naming her, writing that elected officials have a responsibility to encourage \u201ccivility, kindness and decency.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYesterday, we saw the worst example of this by one of my fellow council members, essentially condoning violence because of someone\u2019s political views,\u201d Parker wrote. \u201cIt is very clear that the killing of Charlie Kirk was a political assassination, and there is no justification for evil.\u201d<\/p>\n Kirk, a well-known 31-year-old activist and founder of the youth conservative group Turning Point USA, was shot fatally in the neck Wednesday during a college event in Utah. As of Sept. 11, the shooter was still at large<\/a>.<\/p>\n Council member Chris Nettles, a Democrat, came to Beck\u2019s defense with a written statement condemning Parker for her criticism of Beck. Nettles described the mayor\u2019s words as a \u201creckless and dangerous attack\u201d and accused her of mischaracterizing Beck\u2019s post.<\/p>\n \u201cWords like those used today by the mayor don\u2019t unite our city; they further divide it and put lives and families in danger,\u201d Nettles wrote. \u201cPreaching unity while practicing division never goes hand in hand.\u201d<\/p>\n Shortly after Beck deleted the post, Tarrant County GOP chair Bo French accused her in an X post of celebrating Kirk\u2019s death. He described the Democratic Party as a \u201cdomestic terrorist organization,\u201d adding that President Donald Trump \u201cmust use the full force of the law to crush them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis is beyond acceptable. At a minimum, the Tarrant County Republican Party calls for her to be REMOVED from the City Council immediately,\u201d French wrote. \u201cThis absolutely despicable, scum behavior has no place anywhere near elected office.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Beck declined to comment on French\u2019s accusations.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen it comes to anything that Bo French has said, I have no response, because I choose not to fuel the hate machine that he is in our community,\u201d Beck said.<\/p>\n She added that society must have a \u201cserious discussion on how we engage in discourse and what has become acceptable or unacceptable.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The GOP chairman is no stranger to hot water on social media himself.\u00a0<\/p>\n In June, French faced backlash from Parker<\/a> and a slew of other Republican officials, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, for asking his X followers whether Jewish or Muslim people pose \u201ca bigger threat to America.\u201d At the time, Parker called for French\u2019s removal from the local Republican party, saying there were \u201ctoo many examples of (his) bigotry and hate.\u201d<\/p>\n Since then, French has frequently posted on X about the \u201cthreat of radical Islam\u201d and targeted Texas House Rep. Salman Bhojani, a Euless Democrat and Pakistan-born Muslim, during his participation in a quorum break over congressional redistricting. Last month, a coalition of Tarrant faith leaders mailed letters to Republican officials<\/a>, including to Parker, urging them to denounce French\u2019s \u201chateful rhetoric\u201d toward Bhojani.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the time, Bhojani told the Report he hired 24\/7 security to protect himself, his wife and their two teenage children after being doxxed online and followed by unmarked vehicles because of French\u2019s online attacks.\u00a0<\/p>\n Council member Michael Crain, a Republican, weighed in on Beck\u2019s post on Facebook, commenting under Parker\u2019s statement<\/a> that he knows \u201cthe darkness and evil which fills (Beck\u2019s) heart.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a political assassination plain and simple,\u201d Crain wrote. \u201cShe can explain away, delete the post, post something to appear it wasn\u2019t a circumstance in which she doesn\u2019t find joy. But we know the truth and have witnessed the demonic behavior first hand.\u201d<\/p>\n Council member Charlie Lauersdorf, also a Republican, wrote on Facebook<\/a> that he respects the right to free speech but finds it \u201ctruly reprehensible\u201d when elected officials join in on what he described as celebrating, justifying or mocking Kirk\u2019s killing.\u00a0<\/p>\n A U.S. Marine, Lauersdorf nodded to Beck\u2019s experience serving in the U.S. Army as the discourse played out on the 24th anniversary of Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAs a fellow veteran, I know firsthand how easy it can be to let emotions get the better of us in the heat of the moment,\u201d Lauersdorf wrote. \u201cI sincerely hope that is all this was. I am glad she has since condemned the murder, and I hope she truly believes it.\u201d<\/p>\n Politicians across the country, from both sides of the political aisle, lamented political violence following Kirk\u2019s assassination. As they condemned the killing, some Democratic politicians, including U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett<\/a>, D-Dallas, said the country should respond with action in the form of gun safety legislation.<\/p>\n Trump said he would posthumously honor<\/a> Kirk with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.\u00a0<\/p>\n Cecilia Lenzen and Drew Shaw are government accountability reporters for the Fort Worth Report. Contact them at cecilia.lenzen@fortworthreport.org<\/a> and drew.shaw@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0805-CityCouncilWorkSession-38.jpg\")
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker speaks during a council work session meeting Aug. 5, 2025, at City Hall. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Goss-SpecialMeeting-24-scaled-e1757627407575-1024x681.jpg\")
Fort Worth City Council member Chris Nettles speaks during a council meeting Aug. 5, 2025, at City Hall. (Mary Abby Goss | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n![\"(Maria](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0904-TarrantCountyGOP-08-.jpg\")
Tarrant County GOP chair Bo French leads the party\u2019s executive committee meeting Sept. 4, 2025, in Fort Worth. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n
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