Cornerstone firmly upholds and defends the sanctity of life, a principle whose devaluation has been tragically exposed in the public response to free-speech activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination. All across the country, a large number of progressives openly celebrated Kirk’s gruesome killing. In the seconds after Kirk was shot, one live audience member stood up, grinning from ear to ear, and gleefully cheered. The newsroom at TMZ burst into applause on television as they listened to an ABC 7 reporter say, “Charlie Kirk has died.” Earlier this year, polls showed that 56% of left-leaning voters would support the killing of President Trump.
Here in New Hampshire, multiple individuals from governmental, professional, and educational sectors have had callous responses to Kirk’s death.
Jamie Bradley is the Executive Director of the Seacoast Repertory Theater, one of the only two theaters in New Hampshire with resident actors. The day of Kirk’s death, Bradley openly mocked and celebrated the killing, posting the pun “anti-vaxxer finally gets shot” and “thoughts and prayers” with a laughing emoji. There is no indication that Bradley has faced any professional repercussions for his post.
In Keene, a petition is circulating, asking the community to call for the removal of Keene City Councilor Bobby Williams. His response following Kirk’s death was deemed inappropriate, especially coming from an elected official. On social media, Councilor Williams implied that Kirk earned his death because he “promoted gun violence and died by gun violence.” Additionally, Councilor Williams referred to Mr. Kirk as a “dirtbag” and a “piece of s***.” Being a leader figure, it’s appalling that Williams would have this response to such a gruesome deed.
Sharing a similar sentiment, in a post on X, state legislator Rep. Ellen Read cryptically stated that, while she “cannot condone the murder,” Kirk “died doing what he loved, which is advocating for others to kill…do not ask me to be sad.” In the same thread, Rep. Read also shared a conspiratorial video by leftist YouTuber Monte Mader suggesting that right-wingers orchestrated the killing of Kirk as a pretext for violence: “Conveniently, it was done the day before September 11th so they can paint it as terrorism,” adding that Trump “faked” his own assassination attempt.
This unsympathetic, unprofessional support for political violence was also seen in our NH schools. Jason Paige, a Manchester Memorial High teacher, posted on his Facebook page after Trump’s assassination attempt: “Aim better next time”. In another case, Ed Tinney, an English teacher at Timberlane Regional High School in Plaistow, New Hampshire, was reported for making celebratory comments about Kirk’s death on his public Facebook. On this post that circulated widely the past few days, Tinney wrote: “And yeah, I’m glad he’s dead.”
In the widespread backlash from conservatives, Representative Sayra DeVito called upon the school to take action. An anonymous student had said, “Absolutely disgusting to see a former teacher of mine posting he’s glad someone’s passed. He should be fired. He constantly graded me poorly because of my beliefs.” Following this response, Tinney has been removed from the school, although with pay, and his entire Facebook profile has been wiped clean. Unfortunately, the celebration of Kirk’s murder is much bigger than one high school teacher.
Charlie Kirk was scheduled to come to Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, this month. In the Facebook post announcing this, the community’s response was shameful at best. Jokes referencing his death included saying, “You can take him off the schedule now”, “So are you saying he’s not gonna make it??”, “the key word is ‘was’”, with two laughing emojis, and “he’s gonna be a little late,” “score one for Dartmouth”, “Dodged that one.”
These reactions from an Ivy League school’s community are telling of the educational circles’ need for an empathetic awakening. The right to free speech does not make speech morally defensible or socially acceptable.
Even Cornerstone’s own social media regarding Kirk’s passing has been filled with vitriol. Comments on a reel we posted said things like: “Rip. In Hell. Racist”, “This is ridiculous”, and “Rot in hell”.
Altogether, the anti-Kirk sentiment from the legislature, praise of his assassination from the education system, and the general hate online show the growing lack of basic respect for human life. Dangerous ideas are spreading to New Hampshire: that “freedom of speech” gives us the right to be insensitive and callous. Another harmful line of rhetoric being used to justify these comments is that “not mourning isn’t celebrating.” Even the social media posts that do give condolences or call out the violence include a phrase like “regardless of your political beliefs”. There is no need to preface the condemnation of a cold-blooded assassination of a young father.
What New Hampshire needs to do is speak out against political violence—not praise, ignore, or incite it. Charlie Kirk’s murder was an attack on conservative values, and much of the response from the left affirmed the idea that eliminating people you disagree with is okay. It’s not acceptable. Conservatives shouldn’t have to demand respect for human life from educators. They shouldn’t have to condemn praises of death from Ivy League communities.
The taking of a life is always heartbreaking. There is no room for celebration or indifference in the face of murder. We offer our condolences and prayers to the Kirk family and encourage you to do the same.
