From The Ramparts

Don't Fall for the Okey-Doke Again

                                                            Don’t Fall for the Okey-Doke Again

                                                                     Junious Ricardo Stanton

            The murder of Charlie Kirk was merely one of numerous shootings, killings and murders that occur in America on a daily basis. The fact he was a political influencer is immaterial. He was a Soul whose life like so many in this country was needlessly and prematurely snuffed out. Whether it was a political hit or a random act of violence is not the issue, the issue is there is a lack of respect for the sanctity and importance of life, a lack of morality in a culture that uses gratuitous violence as the predominant form of entertainment. Then when something like this happens, we feign shock and horror despite the fact violence has become a rampant daily occurrence.

            Unlike the hundreds of Americans who are shot and killed in America on a daily basis, Charlie Kirk was somewhat famous, he had a media following, he had a platform, he was the darling of the right, a conservative influencer and organizer. He was a personal acquaintance of Donald Trump; he campaigned on his behalf and Trump included him in his MAGA circle of supporters and acolytes.

As a “celebrity” Kirk was known and revered in right wing circles and held up for his public pronouncements and ideology. His strident commentaries reflected an animus against liberalism, progressives and their policies.

Kirk rose to prominence within ultraconservative circles when he co-founded Turning Point USA a student-based organization in 2012. The organization grew nationwide and became his major platform for his ideology. He was supported by wealthy and influential Republicans and toured the nation sponsoring debates between young, college aged Republicans and Democrats after dropping out of Harper College a community college near his home in suburban Chicago Illinois.

 Kirk had been influenced and radicalized by The Tea Party an insurgent group that denounced US fiscal and to some degree US foreign policies. He was a skillful organizer and he targeted younger Americans with his message. Soon Turning Point USA became one of the largest conservative organizations of its kind in the US. Kirk railed against the culture wars and what he considered Marxist influence even publishing a list of college professors whom he considered purveyors of “leftist” propaganda.  His professors list caught on and through it he gained even more attention and followers.

 Kirk distanced himself from the virulently racist Neo-Nazi fringe of the right and embraced Christian Nationalism which is still predominantly White oriented. He was a supporter of Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential run, he hobnobbed with Trump’s sons and became a key player within the Trump wing of the Republican Party.

Turning Point USA subsequently established several subsidiary organizations and Kirk became a role model for young conservatives due to his zeal and organizing skills. He had a popular podcast; he authored several books, he sponsored college and university speaking tours around the country where he promoted free market capitalism (which doesn’t actually exist), limited government and he was a harsh critic of America’s current socio-political-economic conditions. Charlie Kirk was shot and killed on September 9, 2025 at a college in Orem Utah where he was speaking.

Now the Right is in arms about his murder. They are calling it a political assassination and making him into a martyr. Many are saying his murder is the opening salvo of a new US “Civil War”! Donald Trump has ordered the lowering of all US flags to half mast in honor of this man.

 Meanwhile several HBCUs were closed and put on lockdown due to threats. However, there is no evidence these threats had a direct correlation or connection to right wing supporters of Kirk! Nevertheless, US history is replete with examples of White ire and outrage being focused against Blacks due to the Whites’ fears and prejudices over the economy, their tenuous socio-economic status or whatever boogeymen and hobgoblins they conjure up rather than dealing with the root causes of whatever problems real or imagined they are experiencing.  Today in the US right wing White males are full of anger and angst; who knows what they might do. Look at what they did on January 6, 2020. The Left is just as animated and agitated and the nation is polarized and divided.

We must remain vigilant but don’t fall for the okey-doke. There may be civil unrest but there is not going to be a civil war. In our communities we are more likely to be the victim of a home invasion or random attack by our own then by rabid right-wing fanatics! We have our own issues to resolve and truth be told we cannot rely on White folks or the government to do so.

                                                -30-

posted by Junious Ricardo Stanton @ 10:43 AM