Maine Political leaders in both major political parties decried Wednesday’s assassination of right wing activist Charlie Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump.
Kirk, 31, was shot and killed at a Utah college event. He recently spoke in Maine at an event hosted by Maine Civic Action, a conservative group affiliated with the Maine Policy Institute.
“Our heartfelt condolences go to Charlie’s family, friends and all who knew and loved him,” Maine Republican Party chairman Jim Deyermond said in a statement. “A good Christian man, unafraid to boldly proclaim his beliefs and who captured the hearts of millions of young Americans through civil discourse, is gone.”
Other officials joined Deyermond in condemning political violence.
“As we await further information, we want to make one thing clear: Violence of any kind, especially politically motivated violence, has no place in our society,” Republican legislative leaders said in a statement. “Our country has seen enough political violence. We stand united in condemning this heinous act and denouncing anyone who celebrates it.”
U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, warned about the dangers of politically motivated killings.
“If someone can be shot for views you detest, then they can be shot for views you hold dear. That’s why a free nation cannot tolerate political violence,” he said.
Gov. Janet Mills, following the president's directive, ordered the lowering of state flags until Sept. 14.
“In America, differing views — regardless of who holds them and how much you may detest them — should never be met with violence. I am horrified by what has happened to Charlie Kirk,” she said.
Kirk was speaking at an event hosted by his political youth organization Turning Point USA at Utah Valley University when he was shot. Immediately before the shooting he fielded questions about mass shootings and gun violence.
“Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?” a person at the event asked Kirk.
“Too many,” Kirk responded.
The questioner then asked, "Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?”
“Counting or not counting gang violence?” Kirk responded.
He was shot immediately after.
Federal, state and local authorities were still searching for an unidentified shooter early Thursday, according to the Associated Press.
In a social media post, Trump described Kirk as "great, and even Legendary.” He later released a video describing the activist as a “martyr for truth and freedom."
