What I Learned From Charlie Kirk

Floor Speech

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Mr. KENNEDY of Utah. Mr. Speaker, 9 days ago in my district, a loving husband and father of two children, a public figure who debated vigorously conservative values and a representative for free speech, was assassinated by a deranged coward who felt that violence was the only way to deal with voices that he opposed.

Mr. Speaker, from Charlie Kirk's example, I have learned that we should live boldly, without fear. We should address and confront the cowards of the world who will oppose with violence those who seek to destroy free speech.

I have also learned from Charlie Kirk that we should debate vigorously, that we have opinions, and in this Hall, this sacred Hall, we can debate those opinions with respect and vigor.

Mr. Speaker, I have also learned that we should love completely. Charlie Kirk never degraded an individual that he debated. He always approached them with respect. With a loving approach, he tried to push forward his views and offer them as an alternative to those who debated him.

Mr. Speaker, I also point out that a widow and two amazing children are now left without a husband and a father.

To Erika and those children, I will just say that God has a special place in his heart for the widows of the world. Since ancient times, such as the widow Zarephath with Elijah, the mite that the widow cast into the temple treasury, as well as Jesus Christ' own mother, Mary, a widow, whom Jesus on the cross, while He suffered and died for all mankind, offered that widow, his mother, to His most beloved apostle to take care of for the rest of her life and make sure that she was cared for.

For Erika and her children, I will say that God has a special place in his heart for the widows and for the orphans. They also have a special place not only in my heart but in the hearts of millions as they suffer through the loss of her husband as well as the father of her children.

Mr. Speaker, I am inspired by Charlie Kirk and his example and the fact that his life now transcends not only his life and his message, but he stands for something more important now, which is freedom of speech, a constitutional privilege that our Nation will fight vigorously to protect.

I join with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to shun and eschew violence and to pursue freedom of speech through the rest of my days.

God bless America, Charlie Kirk, and his widow as we move forward.

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