Chair Johnson's Statement on Assassination of Charlie Kirk

Dear Supporters of MFEI,

It is with profound sorrow and a heavy heart that I write to you today as Chairperson of MFEI and PIME regarding the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk on a college campus in Utah. Charlie was a true patriot who devoted his life to open debate, liberty, democracy, justice, and the American people. He inspired millions, particularly our youth, with his courage, logic, humor, and grace, championing ideas that brought young people into the political process and spread a love for our great country and its ideals.

Charlie once said, “If you believe in something, you need to have the courage to fight for those ideas, not run away from them or try and silence them.” He lived by his words. He also warned that "when people stop talking, that's when violence happens," underscoring the critical importance of respectful dialogue to prevent such tragedies.

As President Trump so powerfully stated in his address to the nation, Charlie was a martyr for truth and freedom, a man of deep faith now at peace with God. This is indeed a dark moment for America, where violence and murder stem from the tragic consequences of demonizing those with whom we disagree. Our nation was founded on the principle that we all grow from discussions in the public square.

The radical rhetoric that compares wonderful Americans like Charlie to the world's worst criminals must stop. FBI Director Kash Patel indicates the man who was apprehended as suspect has been released, and President Trump vows to bring all those involved in this atrocity to justice. Law enforcement will pursue other acts of political violence, ensuring justice for all who uphold order and the rule of law in our society.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Charlie's wife, Erika, and their two beloved young children. As First Lady Melania Trump poignantly reminded us, Charlie’s children will be raised with stories instead of memories, photographs instead of laughter, and silence where their father’s voice should have echoed. Charlie Kirk’s life should serve as a symbolic reminder that compassionate awareness elevates family, love, and country—values at the core of MFEI's mission.

Let us commit ourselves to the American ideals for which Charlie lived and died: free and fair elections, free speech, citizenship, the rule of law, patriotic devotion, and love of God. Though an assassin tried to silence him, Charlie's voice and legacy will live on. Together, we will ensure that.

May God bless Charlie's memory, watch over his family, and bless our state and the United States of America.

In solidarity,

Patrice Johnson, Chairperson

MFEI and PIME