House adopts resolution honoring Charlie Kirk; 58 Democrats vote against it

The House voted overwhelmingly to adopt a resolution honoring slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the co-founder of Turning Point USA, and condemning “all forms of political violence.” 

But 58 Democrats voted against the resolution Friday, and another 38 voted “present.” The final vote was 310-58.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York and his leadership team were among the 95 Democrats to support the resolution. They said their aim was to condemn the assassination and political violence, not to endorse Mr. Kirk’s views. 

The measure included several descriptions of the conservative activist whom Democrats disagreed with, like a line saying Mr. Kirk always sought to “foster understanding” when he often made divisive statements about minority groups. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson was the lead sponsor of the resolution, an uncommon move for someone in the top leadership role that shows how much the Louisiana Republican valued Mr. Kirk. 

“Charlie loved vigorous debate. But he loved people more,” Mr. Johnson said during floor debate. “That is the legacy of our friend.” 

He said the best way to honor Mr. Kirk is to advance his principles of “faith and family and freedom and virtue and patriotism.”

California Rep. Robert Garcia led the floor debate for Democrats and was the only member of his party to speak on the resolution. 

“Whatever our personal political views, there should be no hesitation in extending deep sympathy to Charlie Kirk’s loved ones, family and friends,” he said. 

Mr. Garcia expressed support for the measure’s affirmation that political violence has no place in America, but he also took a subtle dig at Republicans who have tried to shut down public criticisms of Mr. Kirk in the wake of his death.

“Democracy cannot function without the ability to argue, to disagree and sometimes offend each other without fear of retribution,” he said. “And that principle of course cuts both ways. We cannot claim to protect free speech if we only protect words that we find comfortable, agreeable or polite.” 

Many Democrats disagreed with Mr. Kirk’s rhetoric on transgender ideology, abortion, immigration, crime and other issues. But the resolution describes Mr. Kirk as “a model for young Americans across the political spectrum, [who] worked tirelessly to promote unity without compromising on conviction.” 

Rep. Hank Johnson, Georgia Democrat, voted against what he called a “dual-purposed resolution,” accusing GOP leaders of “playing politics” by trapping Democrats into choosing between condemning political violence and characterizing Mr. Kirk in words they wouldn’t ascribe. 

“Charlie Kirk was a controversial figure,” he told The Washington Times. “As a Black man, I don’t feel particularly compelled to honor his life because of the things that he stood for.”

Mr. Kirk had made several disparaging remarks about Black people. For example, he said on his show in 2023 that “all the time in urban America, prowling Blacks go around for fun to go target White people.”

The Congressional Black Caucus said in a statement that the GOP resolution was not about healing but “unfortunately, an attempt to legitimize Kirk’s worldview — a worldview that includes ideas many Americans find racist, harmful, and fundamentally un-American.”

“We strongly disagree with many of the beliefs Charlie Kirk promoted: including his belief that the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which ended racial segregation, was a mistake; his denial that systemic racism exists; his promotion of the Great Replacement theory; and his offensive claims about Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Michelle Obama, and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee lacking adequate cognitive ability,” said the group, led by CBC Chair Yvette D. Clarke, New York Democrat.

Democratic Reps. Marc Veasey of Texas and Brittany Pettersen of Colorado, along with 103 of their party colleagues, introduced an alternative resolution to condemn all forms of political violence.

It noted Mr. Kirk’s assassination, as well as that of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark. Hortman, the attempted assassinations of Mr. Trump and several other incidents of political violence targeting public officials in both parties. 

The Democratic resolution “calls on all public officials, community leaders, and media to reject rhetoric that dehumanizes or demonizes opponents and to foster civil discourse.”

Mr. Johnson said Mr. Kirk was a “ubiquitous voice,” and his words have often been misconstrued. 

“You can go cherrypick one line or phrase or something … and portray them to be something that they were not,” he said, noting that Mr. Kirk was motivated by love, not hate. 

Other Republicans joined Mr. Johnson in delivering floor speeches honoring Mr. Kirk’s legacy. 

“Charlie Kirk stood for the open exchange of ideas, our God-given freedoms and spirited debate that challenge people to view the issues of the day in a different light,” said North Carolina GOP Rep. Virginia Foxx.

Rep. Harriet Hageman, Wyoming Republican, urged her colleagues and the country to recommit to the “respectful, open dialogue” that she said Mr. Kirk fostered.

“Let Charlie’s death not deepen our divisions, but be the spark that unites us,” she said.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Louisiana Republican who was a target of political violence when he was shot in 2017 at congressional baseball practice, said the tragedy of Mr. Kirk’s death has inspired more young people to carry on in his footsteps. 

“Turning Point has had requests from over 50,000 people since Charlie Kirk’s assassination to start new chapters on college or high school campuses,” he said. “This movement that Charlie started is only getting started.”

Mr. Kirk was shot to death Sept. 10 while speaking to an audience at Utah Valley University. Police have charged Tyler Robinson, 22, of Utah in the slaying.