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Topics: Charlie Kirk, Politics, News, Social Media, US News
Niamh Shackleton
Topics: Charlie Kirk, Politics, News, Social Media, US News
A Secret Service agent has been put on leave for making unsavoury remarks about Charlie Kirk.
Kirk was a well-known right-wing activist and had views that not everyone agreed with.
He was the co-founder of Turning Point USA which describes itself as 'an American nonprofit organization that advocates for conservative politics on high school, college, and university campuses'.
Kirk was taking part in a Turning Point USA Q&A when he was shot in the neck. He was rushed to hospital for urgent medical attention but tragically succumbed to his injuries.
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People have been sharing their thoughts about Kirk's death. Some have been controversial and have landed them in hot water.
Matthew Dowd, for example, was sacked from MSNBC for his remarks on Kirk, who was just 31 when he died.
"He’s been one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures in this, who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups," he said of Kirk on live TV.
"And I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions. And I think that is the environment we are in.
"You can’t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and not expect awful actions to take place. And that’s the unfortunate environment we are in."
Dowd went on to apologize for his remarks adding that he 'no way intended for my comments to blame Kirk for this horrendous attack'.
Now somebody else is paying the price for making unsavoury comments about the late activist.
Anthony Pough, a Secret Service employee, shared to his Facebook, as per New York Post: "If you are Mourning [sic] this guy .. delete me. He spewed hate and racism on his show.
"Especially when we should be mourning the innocent children killed in Colorado.
"At the end of the day, you answer to GOD and speak things into existence. You can only circumvent karma, she doesnt [sic] leave."
Pough has since been placed on leave.
"The US Secret Service will not tolerate any behavior which violates our code of conduct," a Secret Service spokesperson told NYP. "We are aware of the employee’s social media post from today, and the individual has been placed on administrative leave as we investigate the matter."
US President Donald Trump has since revealed that a suspect, identified as Tyler Robinson, is now in custody.
If you or someone you know has been affected by gun violence, please find more information and support via Survivors Empowered on their website.