UPDATED 6:26 P.M.
PEORIA, Ill. – Peoria’s Republican Congressman says the death of conservative activist and commentator Charlie Kirk is a “huge loss” for America and conservative principals.
The Turning Point USA co-founder was fatally shot Wednesday afternoon at Utah Valley University at an outdoor public event.
16th District Congressman Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap) tells WMBD’s “The Phil Luciano Show” that Kirk was an inspiration to many young people.
“Charlie Kirk was really a good kid,” LaHood said. “He was an optimistic young man, lots of enthusiasm, and he never advocated for violence, ever.”
LaHood says he met Kirk a couple times, once at a Turning Point event and once at the White House during COVID when it hosted the Republican convention on the South Lawn. He recalled Kirk with a big smile and wanting to talk about helping the Republican party.
LaHood also called out what he sees as a pattern of violence against Republicans; notably assassination attempts against President Trump last year, and the 2017 mass shooting at a baseball field in Virginia against Louisiana Republican Congressman Steve Scalise and others during practice for the Congressional Baseball Game, by left-wing activist James Hodgkinson of Illinois.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker made further statements on Wednesday afternoon, partly blaming political violence on alleged rhetoric from President Trump. LaHood says it’s “too soon” for comments such as those.
“What drives me crazy is politicians like Pritzker and others that are spewing hate and veiled threats at anyone on the right,” LaHood said. “Charlie Kirk just passed this afternoon, let his family and let people grieve before we get into political rhetoric and demeaning people.”
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PEORIA, Ill. – Political leaders locally and across the state are reacting to the shooting of a conservative activist and commentator on a Utah college campus.
Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk was shot Wednesday afternoon at Utah Valley University, with his condition not known at this time.
16th District Congressman Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap) says the attack “must be condemned in the strongest possible terms,” and adds that the rise in political violence in the country is “abhorrent.”
17th District Democratic Congressman Eric Sorensen (D-Moline) says his thoughts are with Kirk and his family, and adds that “no matter our politics, everyone deserves to be safe.”
Democratic Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker called the attack “horrifying” and adds that political violence “should never be the norm.”
In a post on X, Democratic Lt. Governor and U.S. Senate candidate Juilana Stratton stated that “gun violence spares no community” and that “political violence is unacceptable.”
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