Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., spoke out on Friday against a resolution honoring the life of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, who was killed on Sept. 10 during a speech at Utah Valley University.
On the House floor, Ocasio-Cortez said the resolution was introduced for “purely partisan” reasons instead of bringing Congress together.
After condemning Kirk’s murder, she said the resolution “brings great pain to the millions of Americans who endured segregation, Jim Crow and the legacy of bigotry today,” criticizing the late 31-year-old’s political beliefs.
“We should be clear about who Charlie Kirk was, a man who believed that the Civil Rights Act that granted Black Americans the right to vote was a mistake, who, after the violent attack on Paul Pelosi, said that ‘some amazing patriot’ should bail out his attacker and accused Jews of controlling ‘not just the colleges – it’s the nonprofits, it’s the movies, it’s Hollywood, it’s all of it,'” Ocasio-Cortez said.
“His rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant, uneducated, and sought to take away rights from millions of Americans — very different from ‘working tirelessly to promote unity’ as the resolution says.”
The resolution described Kirk as a “devoted Christian,” “dedicated husband,” and a “loving father” of two. It highlighted his founding of Turning Point USA and praised his support for the First Amendment.
It also called on the House to condemn Kirk’s assassination and all political violence, praised law enforcement for catching his alleged killer, extended condolences to his family, and encouraged all Americans — regardless of race, party, or religion — to “reject political violence, recommit to respectful debate, uphold American values, and respect one another as fellow Americans.”
Along with Ocasio-Cortez, 57 other Democrats voted against the resolution, including Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, and Maxine Waters of California. However, 95 Democrats voted in favor, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., and Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-Calif.
Here’s a closer look at some of the public comments Kirk made that Ocasio-Cortez mentioned.
Civil Rights Act Claim: During a Feb. 2, 2024, podcast with “Fearless” host Jason Whitlock, Kirk admitted his views on the Civil Rights Act were “provocative” and thanked Whitlock for letting him explain.
Kirk said he researched the Act and its impact. He acknowledged the government had to stop segregation, but argued the Civil Rights Act went further than intended. He said it created a permanent federal bureaucracy that monitored discrimination and expanded programs like affirmative action beyond race to other areas, including LGBTQ issues.
Paul Pelosi Attack Claim: On an Oct. 31, 2022, episode of “The Charlie Kirk Show,” Kirk discussed the attack on Paul Pelosi, saying, “I’m not qualifying it, I think it’s awful.” The attacker, David DePape, was sentenced to life in prison in 2024 after attempting to hold Nancy Pelosi hostage and harming her husband.
Kirk’s remarks about “bailing out” DePape related to cashless bail policies, which let suspects be released before trial without paying bail. He questioned why cashless bail was used in other cities but not applied consistently in San Francisco. Kirk emphasized that he condemned the attack and wished Paul Pelosi a speedy recovery.
Jewish Influence Claim: In an Oct. 26, 2024, podcast episode, Kirk said Jewish donors were funding radical policies and cultural institutions. He later clarified he did not think all Jewish people were anti-White and that he does not like generalizations. He said he was glad Jewish Americans were reconsidering their support of certain causes, and critics had misunderstood him.
While the phrase “Cultural Marxism” has been used in an antisemitic way, some commentators use it without intending antisemitism.
