California Reacts: Political Violence and the Aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s Assassination

Political violence has no place in this country. I say that as someone who survived a violent attack years ago when I was stabbed three times by four young men who were trying to earn gang status. Doctors told me that two millimeters deeper, and I would not be alive today. I understand how quickly anger can turn into tragedy.

The killing of Charlie Kirk was tragic and wrong. We should be able to disagree without losing our humanity. When outrage becomes a source of profit for people with influence, the temperature in our society rises, and everyone feels the effects. This is not a problem created by one political side. It is created by people who benefit from keeping communities divided.

We also need honest conversations about firearms. In states where oversight is limited, anger can escalate faster than reason. This is not an attack on responsible gun owners. It is a recognition that responsible access and responsible policy help keep communities safe.

California leaders condemned the violence and that matters. But statements alone do not change our culture. We need leadership that lowers tension instead of raising it for attention or fundraising. We need people to see one another as neighbors rather than opponents.

Political violence begins with dehumanization. It ends when we choose empathy and accountability over fear. Charlie Kirk’s death should remind us of the cost of division and how important it is to restore trust in one another.