Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Critiques Charlie Kirk’s Legacy After Assassination

US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez condemned the legacy of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk during a Congress session on September 15, 2023, following his assassination earlier in the month. Kirk was fatally shot on September 10, 2023, while engaging with attendees at an event at Utah Valley University. Ocasio-Cortez characterized his killing as a “horrific and vile attack” but stressed that such violence should not obscure Kirk’s controversial beliefs.

In her remarks, Ocasio-Cortez criticized her Republican colleagues for proposing a resolution that honored Kirk’s “life and legacy.” She asserted that it is essential to recognize Kirk’s history of statements that she described as racist and harmful. “We should be clear about who Charlie Kirk was: a man who believed that the Civil Rights Act that granted Black Americans the right to vote was a ‘mistake,'” Ocasio-Cortez stated during the session.

She further highlighted Kirk’s response to the violent attack on Paul Pelosi, in which he suggested that “some amazing patriot out there” should bail out the assailant. Ocasio-Cortez also mentioned Kirk’s controversial comments about Jewish influence, stating that he accused Jews of controlling various sectors including Hollywood and nonprofits. According to Ocasio-Cortez, such rhetoric was “ignorant, uneducated, and sought disenfranchisement of millions of Americans.”

Ocasio-Cortez emphasized that acknowledging Kirk’s assassination does not necessitate the endorsement of his ideas. She expressed this sentiment on social media platform X, declaring, “We can condemn his horrific assassination and the scourge of political violence without uplifting these ideas.”

In addition to her comments on Kirk, Ocasio-Cortez addressed the political implications of his assassination, claiming that the Trump administration is attempting to “weaponize” Kirk’s death to stifle free speech. This statement followed the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel‘s late-night talk show on ABC due to his remarks regarding Kirk’s death.

“It is equally important that Congress unites to reject the government’s attempt to weaponize this moment into an all-out assault on free speech across the country—all in the name of Charlie Kirk,” she stated. Ocasio-Cortez condemned what she described as a “disgusting attack on the American people,” referencing actions taken by President Trump and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) against media outlets perceived as critical of the administration.

Ocasio-Cortez called on ABC to resist participating in what she termed “corruption and escalation of censorship,” urging the network to uphold its responsibility to the public. Her comments highlight the ongoing tensions surrounding political expression in America, particularly in the wake of violent incidents that have sparked national conversations about free speech and accountability.

This incident has drawn significant attention, as it encapsulates the current polarized climate in U.S. politics, where the legacy of public figures continues to provoke intense debate. As the nation reflects on Kirk’s impact, Ocasio-Cortez’s statements serve as a reminder of the complexities surrounding political discourse in the aftermath of violence.