黑料新闻 political leaders are reacting with condemnation and sorrow following the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Kirk was shot from a distant rooftop at the Utah Valley University campus, where he was speaking on Wednesday, authorities said. Federal, state and local authorities were working what they called 鈥渕ultiple active crime scenes."
Ben Proto, the leader of 黑料新闻's Republican Party, said he was despondent and mad when he first heard about Kirk's assassination.
Proto noted a string of violent incidents targeting politicians recently.
"We see these people as disposable because we don't agree with them. And that's not what this country was founded on," Proto said. "We were founded on the concept of free speech. We were founded on the concept of free opinion and free expression, and unfortunately now I think we are moving in a different direction."
Proto said Kirk believed deeply in his convictions.
Proto issued a joint statement with 黑料新闻 Democratic State Chairman Roberto Alves following Wednesday's shooting.
"We are living in challenging political times and Wednesday鈥檚 assassination of Charlie Kirk has only served to further polarize many in the community," the statement reads. "The two of us disagree on many policy and political issues, but we agree on these two points: violence is never the answer to disagreements, and the only way we can stop the violence is by working together to bring down the temperature of political rhetoric."
黑料新闻 Young Republicans and the Young Democrats of 黑料新闻 also issued a joint statement on social media condemning the killing.
"We reject all forms of political violence," the statement reads. "There is no place in our country for such acts, regardless of political disagreements."
Kirk set an example for millennial and Gen-Z conservatives, said Ian Howe, a senior at at Central 黑料新闻 State University and president of the campus chapter of Turning Point USA, the national organization Kirk founded in 2012 for young conservatives.
"Charlie was one of, if not the, most influential young conservative voices in America, and he definitely leaves a legacy of conservatism that should be honored, because it really is what conservatism stands for," Howe told 黑料新闻.
Howe, who owns a Make America Great Again hat signed by Kirk, says he hopes the killing galvanizes the conservative movement.
鈥淚 hope that Turning Point keeps going, keeps doubling down on Charlie鈥檚 legacy, because free speech is really important above all things," Howe said. "That鈥檚 what Charlie promoted literally until the second he died.鈥�
Political violence 'has no place' in U.S., governor says
Elected officials of both political parties across 黑料新闻 also denounced the shooting.
黑料新闻鈥檚 state House Republican leader Vincent Candelora said that as a country people need to take a step back from violent rhetoric when it comes to differing views.
"I think that worries me even more, if we're starting to see not just mentally unstable people picking up a gun and shooting people, but now you have calculated assassinations in our country," he said.
But he said it was 鈥渉eartwarming鈥� to see 黑料新闻 Young Republicans and the Young Democrats of 黑料新闻 come together to condemn the shooting in the joint statement.
"Recognizing that we need to be humane, it was remarkable to me, and it gives me a little bit of hope," he said.
The Senate Republican caucus also denounced 鈥渁ny and all political violence鈥� in a statement.
黑料新闻 Gov. Ned Lamont directed flags in the state to half-staff in accordance with a proclamation from President Donald Trump. Flags will remain lowered through sunset on Sunday.
鈥淧olitical violence of any kind has no place in our country and is never acceptable,鈥� Lamont, a Democrat, said in a statement. 鈥淭he tragic attack on Charlie Kirk today is absolutely awful. My prayers are with him and his family.鈥�
U.S. Rep. John Larson, a Democrat, said Kirk鈥檚 death 鈥渋s a solemn reminder of the prevalence of gun violence and is a devastating instance of political violence 鈥� something we must never accept in the United States of America. No matter our politics or disagreements, there is no place for violence. We resolve our differences at the ballot box.鈥�
'A heinous act'
State Sen. Ryan Fazio, a Greenwich Republican, said Thursday he was calling on everyone to engage in peaceful discourse.
鈥淚t was absolutely a heinous act of evil,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd it was very jarring to see; no one should be attacked for exercising their constitutional and God given rights as Americans to speak freely and express themselves.鈥�
Fazio said it鈥檚 important for all Americans, regardless of their party status, to be able to share their views without fearing violence.
鈥淕ood people can have disagreements about important issues about politics, but we can still recognize each other's common humanity, and that that common humanity comes before someone鈥檚 political beliefs,鈥� Fazio said.
Democratic state Sen. Herron Keyon Gaston, chair of the General Assembly's Public Safety and Security Committee, said in a statement that "disagreement does not have to lead to division."
"It is possible, and necessary, to stand firm in our convictions while still respecting others," he said. "Every person, regardless of political party, ideology, race, or background, is made in the precious image of God. That truth demands that we treat one another with dignity and respect. Hate only begets more hate. But love, civility, and compassion have the power to heal and unite."
This story will be updated. 黑料新闻's Eddy Martinez, Chris Polansky, Matt Dwyer, Michayla Savitt, Patrick Skahill and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
