Free Press Condemns Political Violence — and Those Who Exploit It
The assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University (pictured) is the latest instance of political violence in the United States.
Original image by Wikimedia Commons user An Errant Knight
In a healthy democracy, there is a free flow of ideas.
There is robust access to accurate news and information. Opposing voices are allowed to disagree without threat of violence. Leaders avoid demagoguery and hateful vitriol.
But we are not in a healthy democracy, nor do we have the type of media environment that supports one.
Murder and political violence are wrong and must be condemned. Full stop. In Utah. In Colorado. In Minnesota. In Illinois. In Washington, D.C. Everywhere. Nothing anyone says justifies them being killed. At Free Press, we condemn the murder of Charlie Kirk — and all violence — in the strongest terms possible.
We must also condemn those — starting with the president — who are exploiting violence and tragedy to repress and endanger their political opponents or to excuse their own violence and threats. We condemn government officials using acts of political violence to legitimize the militarization of our communities and the further erosion of human and civil rights.
We desperately need a media and tech system capable of getting to the truth, separating rumor and falsehood from fact. Instead, we have one — driven by the political agenda of the billionaires who control it — that thrives on exploiting our fears and pushing violence and hate.
Being horrified by Charlie Kirk’s murder doesn’t preclude us from also being horrified that he used his megaphone to spread hate and excuse violence, including the murder of protesters.
May we seize this terrible moment to chart a different path, to reject hate and extremism, to call on media-makers and political leaders to help foster a true participatory democracy that’s free of political violence.
May we demand a different kind of coverage that prioritizes facts over clicks, a different kind of tech that connects us rather than feeds on our fears, where going online doesn’t expose us to constant threats or trauma.
May we demonstrate a different kind of leadership, show a different kind of humanity, and make this the last time we have to write messages like this one.