In a 310-58 vote, the House of Representatives passed a new resolution on Friday, honoring the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk.
The resolution was passed with support from 95 Democrats. The resolution was sponsored by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) just nine days following the assassination of Kirk, a prominent political commentator and co-founder of Turning Point USA, who was fatally shot during a Q&A with students at Utah Valley University.
The resolution, HR 719, also includes wording that directly denounces all forms of political violence.
Fifty-eight Democrats, led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, voted against the resolution. In a lengthy statement on the House floor, Ocasio-Cortez criticized the measure, claiming it inflicted “great pain” on Americans and questioned Kirk’s legacy, making a series of sweeping accusations about his beliefs.
“The majority proceeded with a resolution that brings great pain to the millions of Americans who endured segregation, Jim Crow, and the legacy of bigotry,” Cortez said during her speech.
“His rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant, uneducated, and sought to disenfranchise millions of Americans,” Ocasio-Cortez said of Kirk.
Her comments on the floor appeared as a stark contrast to the very spirit of the resolution: to honor a life cut tragically short and to reject more political violence in the future.
Ocasio-Cortez would go on to accuse Kirk of opposing the Civil Rights Act and promoting anti-Semitic conspiracies, while also framing the resolution to honor him as a partisan attack orchestrated by conservatives.
Ocasio-Cortez’s speech had no impact on the bill passing in favor of memorializing Kirk and denouncing politically motivated violence.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett also voted against the resolution, adding her own vitriol since Kirk’s assassination, which has become more of her calling card than a sign of credibility.
Crockett attempted to address political rhetoric with her own political rhetoric during an interview on CNN’s The Arena with Kasie Hunt on September 16, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
“Please tell me who is fostering this gun culture. Right? I mean, the reality is that the average person on the left probably could not make a shot from 200 yards because they haven’t been playing with assault rifles since they were a little kid. Like, that is just the reality of how people on the left typically work,” Crockett told Hunt.
Crockett has labeled Trump a “wannabe Hitler” since Kirk’s death.
To which the White House addressed, stating, “Jasmine Crockett is the queen of divisive rhetoric and it is despicable that she would try and point fingers at President Trump for the assassination of his dear friend, Charlie Kirk,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Newsweek.
“The House votes 310-58 to condemn Charlie Kirk’s assassination, honor his legacy, and denounce political violence. 58 Democrats voted against it. Insane,” Benny Johnson posted to X, with over 1.8M views as of press time.
Despite the voices of hatred from a few, the majority voice of hope rang the loudest.
Kirk’s enduring legacy ultimately transcends politics and partisan conflicts. The resolution acknowledges his contributions to the fundamental principles of free speech and patriotism while condemning the violent rhetoric that ultimately led to his assassination.