WASHINGTON (AP) – The home has passed a resolution honoring the overwhelmingly conservative activists Charlie Kirk On Friday, however, a considerable number of Democrats voted against it, emphasizing that his assassination would deepen political disparity.
The resolution, which praised Kirk’s “life and heritage,” passed a Republican-controlled home in favor of 310 votes. 95 Democrats supported the resolution, 58 voted against it, and 38 voted “present” and effectively abstained. Republicans had warned before the vote that no one should oppose the measure, but many Democrats felt that Kirk’s death was politicized and that the resolution raised the views they opposed.
“Today’s resolution highlights the recklessness of the majority by choosing to write this condemnation and giving purely partisan respect,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, a well-known Democrat who voted against the resolution. “We need to be clear who Charlie Kirk is.”
Speaker Mike Johnson said the resolution had “no partisan language” and that “no excuses” would not be able to vote for it.
“We are a big contributor to the free market for ideas and public discourse, celebrating those who have died in dishonorable and horrifying ways,” Johnson told reporters.
The vote capped across the country working on the week of tensions in Congress and the assassination of Kirk and the legacy he left behind. Many on the right denounced the left for fostering a political climate that led to his death, pushing more than accusation, and allowing almost room for criticism for his views. Since then, there has been a backlash against such criticism. It led to a fire – From teachers to journalists – Conservative activists have launched an offensive pressure campaign.
“Not just one member, but one member of the House Democrat Caucus, has not tolerated political violence in America,” House Democrat leader Hakeem Jeffries said Friday.
Earlier this week, It was slightly rejected To punish one of his own, surrounding the commentary in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Republican efforts to condemn Rep. Ilhan Omar came after George Floyd’s 2020 death in Minneapolis after criticising Kirk’s views on gun ownership and race relations. After a lack of votes, President Donald Trump responded by calling Omar “awful.”
Friday’s resolution was intended to honor Kirk and condemn political violence, but many Democrats had problems with their language. The text described Turning Point USA founder Kirk as “trying to raise truth, promote understanding and strengthen the Republic,” saying he was standing “as a model for young Americans.”
The resolution sparked intense internal debate among Democrats. The party’s leadership ultimately supported it, but they did not push their members to vote in a specific way. Some lawmakers saw it as a political trap designed to force them to support Kirk’s views.
“This Republican resolution was designed as a political ‘gotcha’. We are trying to force all members of Congress to lift Charlie Kirk’s views rather than simply condemning his assassination,” Rep. Washington Pramila Jayapal said in a statement. “We can’t do that.”
Michigan Debbie Dingel was among a few members of the party attending a rally honoring Kirk at the Capitol earlier this week, but she said “it’s a horrifying murder and this unsettling time requires us all to refuse violence, hatred and anger without hesitation.”
Many Republicans in Congress are scheduled to travel to Arizona on Sunday for Kirk’s funeral. Johnson, who is scheduled to attend the funeral, gave a long tribute to the house floor on Thursday, saying that the best way to honor Kirk is to “advance the principles he has advanced and adopt his approach.”
Mike Marinella, a spokesman for the National Republican Campaign Committee, said Democrats “were so consumed by hatred and political violence that they couldn’t even support a resolution condemning the assassination of Charlie Kirk.”
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Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freaking of Washington contributed to the report.
