Margo reacts to Charlie Kirk’s assassination

I spent a weekend morning late last summer walking through suburban Phoenix with volunteers Turning point actionCharlie Kirk’s political advocacy group. Donald Trump A huge rally just took place in the city during which Robert F. Kennedy Jr.– An amazing guest – gave him. The golden ribbon looks like it’s on the stage. Many in the crowd met Kirk there and he spoke first. “You know you’re part of something bigger than you,” he said. “You’re part of the most exciting, diverse, powerful movement in the history of this country.” He continued, “This movement is something we all oppose them.” The next time I saw Kirk in January, Trump won the election, and Kirk hosted an Eve party in the basement of a hotel in Washington. Dizzy supporters dance at the disco ball. But even at its peak, there was a lot of discussion about the battlefield ahead, and a reference to how narrow Trump escaped from his campaign. On Wednesday, after Kirk was assassinated For many, on the Utah stage, it’s like war here. “People warned him, ‘Hey, Charlie, you’re the most naked person in this sport.'”Charlie Kirk was the casualty of the war. We are in war in this country. On the floor of the House, speaker Mike Johnson interrupted the vote and kept silent for Kirk. Lauren Boebert shouted that they should pray loudly: “Silent prayers get the result of silence.” Anna Paulina Luna shouted to the Democrats: “You all caused this! ”

I decided to go out. There is a vigil at St. Joseph’s, a Catholic church near the Capitol. The service lasted twelve minutes. By the time I arrived, the bench was empty. In the dark corridor outside the nave, I met a Senate staff member who heard about the vigil in an email explosion. “Whether you agree with his consent or not, he represents a lot of people.”

Outside, two men chat under street lights and hold a printing program. One of them, Ethan, told me, “The vigil uses the preaching on the hill as a direct comparison between Kirk and Jesus.” “You can consider the truth that he spreads around the country, spreading the gospel. Some would call him a provoker, while others would call him a prophet.”

“He’s one of the better people on the right,” said another person who didn’t give him a name. “I’m worried about what might happen.”

Ethan replied: “Some people are celebrating this person’s death directly.”

“It confirms the idea that rights are under attack,” another said. “Maybe the quiet majority will get bigger. I can see people saying, ‘I’m not going to put my face there because that guy did it, he was killed for doing it.” Transparent

“I think the real question is whether things start online or in real life,” Ethan said.

Another person asked Ethan if he had seen the assassination video. Ethan didn’t. “Fuck,” the man said. “You should watch it. Do you want to watch it now?”

Joe Allen, the reporter of Bannon’s performance, happened to cross the road alone in the dark. I walked with him toward Pennsylvania Avenue. I thought people might gather at Butterworth’s, it’s an informal one Magazine Club, mourn Kirk. One restaurant owner told me he plans to hire armed security the next day. The joy of the inauguration feels like it was a long time ago. One alert man told me: “Be safe there.” “I hope this won’t turn into a hot civil war.” Allen said: “I feel a dark trailer. Swelling negative energy…and then, it’s a constant online replay. Yes, we’re going to watch these people die for days, weeks, I die over and over. I die over and over. There’s so much wall madness and cruelty. He added: “I’m worried that Trump has been strengthening state power.” But, more importantly, potential imitators. ”

We stopped in front of the store where we played Cable News on TV. Trump speaks from the Oval Office on screen. “My administration will find people who contribute to this atrocities and other political violence, including those who fund and support it, as well as followers—” The video disappeared. “Of course, the president is not calling for peace in four aspects. Kara Swisher was his guest. She replied: “There has never been a chance to hate.” ” “This is the real weapon of the word. ”

Outside Butterworth, a man in a suit beats on the sidewalk. I heard his phone summary: “We’re going to send a text message… Democrats…” A group of people were smoking near the door. “Charlie did everything,” a person close to the government told me. “The point is, I’m going to sit down and talk to people and try to change their minds. If you don’t like my ideas, sit down with me. To quote Charlie, ‘When the words stop, violence begins.’ If you’re going to kill him, you’ll trust him like he does.” He continued: “The right begs for excuses that have a vicious part. Charlie is a bastion of that. In America, you have a political structure that is absolutely fucking disabled.”