Dear Editor
One man shot and killed Charlie Kirk, a very popular right-wing activist. The gunman, Tyler Robinson, came from a Republican family but somehow developed a hatred for Kirk.
So far, the FBI hasn’t found any connection between Robinson and any political organization, but the far right is using it as a pretext for declaring a virtual war on the Democratic Party.
President Trump has ordered a widespread crackdown on any Democratic organization he deems suspect, which probably means most of them.
White House advisor Stephen Miller sent this message to the Democratic Party when he spoke at Kirk’s memorial service: “You are wickedness and evil. You are hatred. You have no idea of the forces you have awakened. We are the storm!”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has called for a “spiritual war against the forces of evil.”
John Gillette, a Republican representative from Arizona, is calling for the execution of Washington representatives Pramila Jayapal and others like her for organizing groups that take part in peaceful, nonviolent protests.
While the MAGA people decry Kirk’s slaying, they didn’t have anything to say about the far-right gunman who killed Minnesota representative Melissa Hortman and her husband last spring. The shooter had a list on him of all the Democrats he wanted to kill but was gunned down before he could act on it.
Sadly, much of the dangerous rhetoric comes from the top. Trump openly calls for vengeance on his so-called enemies, which means anyone who doesn’t bend to his will.
He was the driving force for the Jan. 6 insurrection and joyfully relished watching it on television, according to those who were with him, even though people were getting injured and killed. Last Friday, Trump called Democrats the party of hate, evil, and Satan.
In contrast, when Kamala Harris was told she lost the election, she made a concession speech and went home.
While Kirk’s death was a tragedy that never should have happened, there is no justification to wreak retribution on those who had no part in it.
Marilyn Ooms, Perryville
