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What the Public Memory of #CharlieKirk Revealed
For those who felt denigrated by his rhetoric, the bipartisan tributes to him as a champion of free speech augured something dangerous: the #mainstreaming of formerly #extremist views.
By Nikole Hannah-Jones
Last year, The Washington Examiner, a #conservative news outlet, published a column calling the organization #Kirk co-founded, #TurningPointUSA, “one of the most destructive forces in Republican politics.” It said that “a healthy conservative movement cannot tolerate conspiracy theorists being presented as serious political figures” & called the organization’s leadership “toxic.” But the period since Kirk’s death has revealed a deeply unsettling cultural shift.
8 months into #Trump’s second term, it is clear that Kirk’s ideas are no longer considered on the #extremist periphery but are embraced by #Republican leadership.
When Rep #JasmineCrockett (D-TX) bemoaned that only 2 of the 58 #Democrats who refused to sign the resolution honoring #Kirk were #white, #LauraLoomer responded on X by railing against “ghetto Black bitches who hate America serving in Congress.”
These outlets did not mention that Posobiec is a #ConspiracyTheorist who has been labeled an #extremist by the #SouthernPovertyLawCenter because of his ties to #WhiteSupremacists & #neoNazis.
Even #Democratic politicians felt compelled to pay tribute. Gov #JoshShapiro of #Pennsylvania ordered flags to be flown at half-staff “as a mark of respect for the memory of #CharlieKirk,” though he later criticized Kirk’s rhetoric.
What the Public Memory of #CharlieKirk Revealed
For those who felt denigrated by his rhetoric, the bipartisan tributes to him as a champion of free speech augured something dangerous: the #mainstreaming of formerly #extremist views.
By Nikole Hannah-Jones
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