Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox told the nation on Friday to log off of social media and find peace with one another in response to Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
Cox read direct quotes from Kirk, where he called on young people to “turn off [their] phone” and remember that “internet fury is not real life” during a press conference addressing the capture of Kirk’s assassin, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. In honor of Kirk’s message, the Utah governor said social media is a “cancer” in American society by causing division and hate between those with political differences.
“This is not good for us. It is not good to consume. Social media is a cancer on our society right now and I would encourage … people to log off, turn off, touch grass, hug a family member, go out and do good in your community,” Cox said. “That is happening and it is happening oreganically right now. I had a friend in a small city in Utah say ‘we’re getting together, the Republicans and Democrats in my little town, to have a discussion tonight’ last night, just to find a way to find their better angels. So yes, this could be, you know, again, you have to go back to JFK to see a video live of something like this happening? … This is our moment. Do we escalate or do we find an offramp?”
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In addition, Kirk said that it is easy to commit violence when a person stops having a human connection with the one they disagree with.
“‘Turn off your phone, read Scripture, spend time with friends and remember, internet fury is not real life. It’s going to be okay.’ He again said, ‘When you stop having a human connection with someone that you disagree with, it becomes a lot easier to commit violence,’” Cox read, citing Kirk.
Authorities arrested Robinson on Friday for the assassination of Kirk, who died from a gunshot wound to the neck during an event at Utah Valley University. Robinson confessed to committing the assassination to his father, who in turn urged his son to turn himself in to the authorities, but Robinson initially refused. After Robinson changed his mind, his father reported his son to a youth pastor, who then contacted the U.S. Marshals Service, according to CBS News.
The father said that Robinson had become more political in recent years and was “full of hate,” Cox reported during the press conference. Robinson had also spoken to his family the night before about Kirk’s upcoming visit to Utah Valley University and about how much he disliked him.
Robinson climbed to the roof of a building located 200 yards away from the campus and fatally shot Kirk. Cox further confirmed that the casings discovered by police included engraved anti-fascist messaging such as, “Hey fascist! CATCH!” and “O Bella ciao, Bella ciao, Bella ciao, Ciao, ciao!”
Cox further called on Americans to follow Kirk’s example by engaging in open discussion and free expression.
“These are the words that have helped me. Charlie said, ‘When people stop talking, that’s when you get violence.’ He said ‘the weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. The only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive. Welcome without judgement, love without condition, forgive without limit.’ He said, ‘always forgive your enemies. Nothing annoys them so much.’”
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