SAEDNEWS: Colorado leaders from both parties condemned the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, as the state simultaneously grappled with a deadly school shooting in Evergreen.
Political and religious leaders in Colorado responded with sorrow and outrage Wednesday after news broke that conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was killed during an event at a Utah university. His death came just as Coloradans were processing another act of violence: a school shooting at Evergreen High School.
Kirk had been slated to speak in Colorado later this week at the Truth & Liberty conference, hosted by Andrew Wommack Ministries in Woodland Park. He was also scheduled for two stops at Colorado State University as part of his American Comeback Tour.
“This ought to inspire all of us that, man, we are in a battle,” Wommack said in a video posted after the shooting. “It’s not just a physical battle, it’s a spiritual battle.”
On the U.S. House floor, Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert, her voice breaking, called Kirk a pioneer. “Today is a really hard day. I do not believe that Charlie’s life being stolen in this manner is in vain,” she said.
Boebert later posted on X: “Myself and others will not be silenced, nor back down. What Satan meant for evil God WILL use for good.”
Colorado Springs Congressman Jeff Crank also shared memories of Kirk, writing on Facebook that he was “a compassionate warrior for the conservative movement.”
Democratic Rep. Brittany Pettersen noted the eerie timing: “Right before I got the news of what was happening in Evergreen High School, seconds before, I saw the update that Charlie Kirk had been shot. What is it going to take for us to come to the agreement that not every person should be able to buy a gun?”
Governor Jared Polis, a Democrat, urged unity in the face of tragedy: “Political violence is never acceptable. Any divisions we face will never be solved by trying to hurt each other. I encourage everyone to disagree better — peacefully.”
Rep. Jason Crow echoed that message. “Regardless of who is targeted, political violence is unacceptable in a democracy. We are all suffering as a result.”
The killing of Kirk adds to a growing list of violent acts directed at political figures — from attempts on former President Donald Trump’s life to attacks on state officials. Experts warn that such incidents deepen partisan divides while leaving communities shaken.
On the House floor, 30 seconds of silence were held for Kirk. But tensions flared when Boebert demanded a spoken prayer, saying “silent prayers get silent results.” Democrats shouted back that victims of the Evergreen shooting deserved equal recognition, highlighting the strain of overlapping tragedies.
Kirk, who rose to national prominence as the founder of Turning Point USA, built his career as a leading voice for young conservatives. His death has been described by allies as not only a political loss, but a personal one for those who worked alongside him.
As Colorado reels from both the Evergreen school shooting and Kirk’s killing, leaders across the spectrum agree on one point: the violence must stop.
“Charlie Kirk’s murder is a reminder that our democracy only survives if we reject violence,” Rep. Crow said. “That is the responsibility of all of us.”
