by Shannara Johnson
The whole nation mourns Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old family man who loved Jesus and believed in peaceful debate with people who vehemently disagreed with him. Charlie Kirk’s conservative views, his engaging personality, and his love for the truth influenced an entire generation of young Americans and, really, young people all over the world. Many of his colleagues believed he would be president one day.
I said “the whole nation mourns Charlie,” but of course that isn’t true. Only the half with a heart that hasn’t turned to stone yet. Like me, many who weren’t even his staunchest supporters cried last night—not just because of his senseless and brutal death, but because of the cheering and mocking and celebrating by leftist lunatics on X, TikTok, and other social media outlets.
The legacy media was in there right with them. MSNBC commentator Matt Dowd said with a noticeable sneer that “hateful thoughts bring about hateful words, and hateful words bring about hateful actions,” indicating that, clearly, Charlie deserved to be gunned down execution-style because he was espousing traditional conservative opinions.
They couldn’t even let us mourn in peace. In Idaho, an outdoor vigil for Charlie was disrupted by a BLM activist pushing through the crowd on a scooter, whooping and shouting, “F*ck Charlie Kirk!” Well, he got his butt kicked. The conservative crowd wasn’t having it anymore.
But the most impactful aspect of yesterday’s events was something largely unspoken. Millions felt it, but most didn’t know how to articulate it. Some conservative podcasters called it a “true turning point” that was reached with Charlie’s murder, others called it a “tipping point.” It was something in the air that you just couldn’t put your finger on.
Here’s what I think many felt: This was not just an assassination. It was a spiritual earthquake shaking the souls of believers and all good people. It was like the fabric of reality had perceptibly shifted, like a hard line between good and evil had finally been drawn.
The first thought that came to me when I heard that Charlie had died was that the “restrainer” had been removed, this enigmatic person mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2 that would precede the man of lawlessness making himself known. I pushed it off as silly, but was it?
Some people said it was the same feeling they’d gotten after the WTC attacks of 9/11—the anniversary of which, probably not coincidentally, is today—realizing that their life would never be the same.
Some podcasters say it’s the beginning of a pushback from the conservative half of the country who are tired of taking the leftists’ bullying and condoning of violence against conservatives, white people, and Christians. Some darkly insinuated that this might be the “Archduke Ferdinand” moment that might lead to the Second American Civil War.
And, you know, all that might still be true. At some point, I’m sure, the right will feel that they’ve been pushed too far and retaliate. Worst case, this may lead to civil war, or equally bad, the Deep State may use it for its own nefarious purposes and instigate another January 6-type entrapment, which will then lead to new, tighter laws. The elites know that Americans are a stubborn, self-sufficient bunch. They won’t swallow the combo of digital ID, digital money, and total surveillance without complaints, and as we’ve seen in the past, these shock-and-awe events come in quite handy for tightening the invisible noose.
Charlie’s murder will also bring out the most volatile and extremist elements of the right, the real white supremacists whom the left sees behind every bush, but who are actually quite rare. They’ve been ramping up their activity on social media in the last year or so, fanning the flames of racism and hatred toward strangers born from fear as much as they can, calling human evildoers “demons” and “animals” in order to dehumanize. We won’t win by stooping to the level of our enemy.
But there is also an unexpected, beautiful ray of sunlight that is beginning to shine through the storm clouds.
On this fateful Tuesday when Charlie Kirk lost his life, thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of Zoomers were watching attentively, with clear eyes, observing and recognizing the hidden morality play behind the events. Some were fans of Charlie Kirk, others became fans as the day went on.
It didn’t escape their bright attention that Charlie has been made a martyr because he died defending a traditional Christian worldview—a martyr much like Jesus Christ’s apostles and many of the saints that came after them. They watched and learned. And now they are getting ready to pick up their cross and follow Him. Not just Charlie, but Jesus Himself. They are preparing to preach God’s truth to the world, no matter what the personal cost to them.
As Charlie well knew, because he had his fingers on the pulse of this cohort, the Zoomers (especially the boys) have been a generation without prospects. Many can’t find adequate work after saddling themselves with crushing student loans, others who do have a job have to live three to an apartment to be able to pay the bills. Cars, houses, marriage, children—all out of reach for these young indentured servants. Zoomers are a generation that has been short-changed on meaning, purpose, and hope for the future. It took Charlie’s death to set them on fire.
What they saw yesterday live on TV was not just a political assassination. They saw the beginning of a movement of the Holy Spirit.
As we Catholics know, God works most powerfully through His martyrs. This movement could change the world as we know it. Let’s pray for the repose of Charlie’s soul and for the beginning of a massive tidal wave of traditional Christianity sweeping the country and the world, all made possible through “Turning Point USA” and the blood sacrifice of a young man who was unafraid to speak out.
God bless you!
The author is a former Hyde Park resident and candidate for the Legislature. She now lives in the Midwest, where she authors the The Stumbling Saint Substack page.