Topics: JD Vance, Charlie Kirk, US News, Politics
JD Vance has made a shocking request after a doctor was reported for 'celebrating' Charlie Kirk's death.
On September 10, the political commentator was killed when a single bullet struck him in the neck while speaking at a college event in Utah.
The authorities believed the gunman acted alone, and made the fatal shot with a bolt-action rifle while positioned on a campus rooftop, in what has been deemed a 'targeted attack' on Kirk.
Days later, the FBI announced it had arrested its leading suspect, named as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson.
Advert
However, while the assassination sent shockwaves across the US, the killing of the controversial activist has sparked commentary across social media, and apparently even in the workplace.
According to Lexi Kuenzle, a nurse at Englewood Health, her colleague Dr. Matthew Jung allegedly 'celebrated' Kirk's death.
In her lawsuit against the hospital and the doctor, she claimed Dr. Jung had stated Kirk 'had it coming' and that he 'deserved it.'
Kuenzle was initially suspended alongside Dr. Jung, though the hospital said her position has since been reinstated, while the doctor resigned.
Now, Vice President JD Vance and longtime pal of Kirk has weighed in on critics with an unexpected rallying call to allies to 'report' offensive comments.
Taking over 'The Charlie Kirk Show' podcast in his buddy's memory, Vance said: "When you see someone celebrating Charlie's murder, call them out. And hell, call their employer."
Vance encouraged his fellow Americans to take on their 'role' in 'civil society' by reporting such incidents, adding: "We don't believe in political violence, but we do believe in civility.
"And there is no civility in the celebration of political assassination."
Yet critics were quick to point out the initiative contradicts the Republican party line over free speech and what Kirk himself championed.
"The Vice President of The United States of America is calling for a nationwide cancel culture regime," said one unimpressed viewer on Twitter.
A second chimed in, saying: "I don't support trampling over someone's grave, but this is pretty ridiculous. Not only is it a first amendment violation, but isn't cancel culture something the right has been railing against for years now?"
Others said they thought Vance was proposing an 'un-American' authoritarian regime.
However, some appeared to support the idea, adding free speech 'doesn't mean free of consequences.'
"If you openly celebrate an assassination, don’t cry when people call your boss. That’s not censorship, that’s accountability. Charlie Kirk defended your right to speak, he didn’t defend your right to mock murder victims on the clock," someone wrote in response.
According to Business Insider, dozens of companies have already sacked employees for their unsavoury remarks over the assassination, and in one case for allegedly refusing to publish fliers about Kirk's memorial.
Some of those dishing out notices include major corporations such as Microsoft, Delta Air Lines, and Office Depot.
A MSNBC analyst was another to face the chopping block after making comments while live on TV.
Matthew Dowd was sacked after stating, "Hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions" after the slaying, which he later apologized for.
British punk duo Bob Vylan, which is no stranger to landing in hot water for the frontman's political comments after he lead chants of 'death to the IDF' at Glastonbury, has also had their gig cancelled for speaking about Kirk's murder.
"The pronouns was/were. Cause if you chat s*** you will get banged," the singer said while on stage in Amsterdam. "Rest in peace Charlie Kirk, you piece of s***.”
Kirk is survived by his wife, Erika, and their two young children.
He is set to be laid to rest in his hometown of Arizona on Sunday (September 21), where President Trump and Vance, among other government officials, will be in attendance.
