Statement Condemning the Assassination of Charlie Kirk

We are horrified by the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Political violence is a threat to our democracy and the safety of our communities - it undermines our confidence in the democratic process and in our ability to exercise our rights to free speech and political expression. We all must condemn this horrible attack in the strongest possible terms.  

Our rejection of political violence is rooted in our firm embrace of democratic and inclusive values, and we condemn any efforts to exploit this horrific event to justify repression of rights, attacks on marginalized communities, or further violence.  

Political violence is on a dangerous rise, and we are observing high levels of dis- and misinformation and conspiracy theories surrounding this event. We are mindful that we all share a responsibility to de-escalate and to avoid dehumanizing rhetoric, promoting false narratives and sharing unconfirmed information.  

In moments of national crisis, we must rely on our democratic values to come together instead of further fracturing.  We call on leaders at every level to reject violence and the repression of rights, and to invest in civic engagement that strengthens—not erodes—our democracy.