🔗 Share this article

Alana* felt surprised by the deification of Charlie Kirk following the incident on September 10. As an Afro-Latina genderqueer senior at Howard University, she found it off-putting when she saw an image on Instagram depicting Kirk hugging Jesus. “He wasn’t this national hero or politician,” Alana, who is using an alias, stated. She described him as “merely a vocal white man with strong views.”

The sentiment on the historically Black university’s campus is that his statements about marginalized communities was hateful and that they are being unfairly blamed for his death. In the days and weeks following Kirk’s death, multiple historically Black institutions along with African American scholars faced targeting with racist threats. Journalists have lost their jobs while minority students have received disciplinary action for not properly mourning or apparent celebration his death.

Interviews with Black, brown and queer students across the United States reveal concern about the valorization of Kirk in his death and concern about attacks on expressive rights. Certain scholars fear that Kirk’s killing might result in heightened militaristic measures and restricted speech within academic settings.

Unexpected Appearance to Tennessee State University

Recently, several right-leaning advocates made an unauthorized visit at the Nashville campus, an HBCU in Nashville. They were from the Fearless Tour, organizing national discussions in Kirk’s honor, and wore “Make America great again” hats and displayed signs stating “DEI should be outlawed” and “Immediate deportation! Let’s discuss.” Concerns over HBCU safety occupied Talia Talley’s thoughts when she neared their setup.

“I did feel a little bit fearful,” Talley noted. “We had no idea that they were coming to our university for this purpose.” Talley’s classmates were yelling at the activists, she recalled, and “trying to squeeze a lot of things about Black history into the little moment available.” Eventually, campus security and staff removed the tour participants from the grounds. ““Following institutional guidelines,” the university clarified, “any demonstration or protest activity requires advance approval and permitting.”

Blair*, a TSU senior, saw the visitors following a physics lecture. “It takes a particular audacity to enter another’s campus uninvited and engage students without consent,” Blair, using an alias, commented. “We don’t owe them a conversation.”

Free Speech and Censorship Concerns

Numerous scholars have raised doubts the limits of free speech following the event. Two African American students in Texas institutions were expelled or withdrew from their colleges after videos of them mocking of the incident spreading online. On 12 September, Camryn Giselle Booker appeared in a video stating: “Your friend is deceased,” at a memorial gathering. She was arrested on an assault charge and released the next day on a $200 bond. Booker is no longer enrolled the institution, as confirmed by the university. “Actions disrespecting victims of violence is reprehensible, and not tolerated here, and does not align with our values,” the school affirmed.

Devion Canty Jr, previously at TXST, was also filmed imitating Kirk’s death during a campus vigil. The state’s governor, called for Canty’s expulsion on X, writing: ““Remove this student at once. Mocking such events requires penalties.” Canty eventually left the university. “Such harassing behavior contradicts our community standards, and it damages our community at its core,” TXST representative Jayme Blaschke said in a statement. “We are addressing reports on reports where there’s evidence, a name, or witness.”

“Speech on matters of public concern – even speech that deeply offends people – forms democracy’s basis,” his legal representative commented. “Amid current divisions, we cannot allow fear or political pressure restrict essential freedoms. Greater concern is warranted regarding the governor’s demand on a public university to violate the Constitution by expelling a student for protected speech than a student’s impulsive comments ill-considered in the heat of a political debate.”

Historical Context and Future Concerns

An expert in systemic racism studies, a law professor said that reform and retrenchment often alternate in American history. After advancements occur, in progressive ideals, he said, the pendulum will later swing toward setbacks. “Slavery was abolished, then Reconstruction ended, and then you have Jim Crow that comes right after that: a step back. The Civil Rights Movement emerged, which is a step forward on race relations. Then mass incarceration reversed gains,” he stated. “Obama’s election symbolized progress, appearing as a major step, but Trump represented a retreat.”

After that election, Hansford said that the public may find it inconceivable that there may be a rise in segregation and whites-only businesses ahead. “Yet that trajectory seems likely,” Hansford said. The event “might mark a shift accelerating a slide into the era of backwards sliding”.

Conservative reactions to the incident is being used as a tool to continue censoring ideals that challenge the status quo, noted a Temple University senior. “Authorities might prohibit Zionism critiques. It could ban criticism of the US government’s foreign policy for many individuals, particularly non-citizens,” said AR*, who is using a pseudonym, stated. “They might consider removing citizenship from naturalized persons on the basis of their speech. Now a convenient target exists for leftist extremism.”

For AR, Kirk was more than not merely a commentator. “He was an incredibly far-right one,” he added. “He repeatedly voiced opinions on Black and trans communities. He’s parrotted rightwing conspiracy theories and misinformation on immigration.”

Scholarly Views and Individual Thoughts

Zoe*, an Arab woman, studying at Swarthmore, expressed confusion over the focus on Kirk in the news cycle. “When I’m thinking about political violence, my thoughts turn to Palestine,” she stated. “That is the political violence that I prefer to spend my time dwelling on and pushing back against. I avoid dedicating time on some dude who made money from spreading fear and expressing extreme views.”

Left-leaning scholars in southern regions have had to navigate difficult discussions with right-aligned relatives, noted a student. If his conservative grandmother brings up Kirk’s impact, John*, who is using an alias, said he is often left speechless. “I do feel a level of sympathy with his family. Yet among friends, we all agree that he was horrible; we oppose his ideologies,” John said. “The contrast is stark. On one hand, obviously political violence is not something we should support. On the other hand, how can I feel sympathy with someone lacking empathy for me?”

Some students are considering relocating overseas post-graduation due to the heightened fear following Trump’s election and Kirk’s murder, noted a Pratt Institute senior. “Once the government became more conservative and religious influences into their politics, we thought we should look towards other schools, at least for graduate school,” Maria said. “Many seniors express who are like: ‘We should transfer schools to leave the nation.’

“America just isn’t a good place to be in any more.”

*Participants selected pseudonyms due to safety concerns