How to honor Charlie Kirk’s memory: fearless speech, open assembly, unflinching debate | Opinion

Twenty-four years ago, America came under attack when planes struck the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It was an assault on our freedom, our resolve and our American way of life.

In those dark hours, when smoke filled the sky and uncertainty gripped the nation, we made a vow: Terror would never silence us.

On Wednesday, conservative activist Charlie Kirk — a close ally of President Donald Trump — was assassinated while hosting an open-air debate at Utah Valley University.

While some may view these tragedies very different, the intent was the same. Just as al-Qaida sought to break America’s spirit on 9/11, the assassination of Charlie Kirk was an attack on the very ideals that built this republic and the freedoms we hold sacred.

This is not about gun violence; this is about an assassin silencing political speech.

The freedom of speech is the linchpin of liberty — the beating heart of democracy itself. It is what gives every citizen the power to safeguard all other freedoms and to move this great nation closer to being a “more perfect union.” That is why it stands first in the Bill of Rights. And it is no accident that the freedom of speech is joined with the right to assemble, for the two go hand in hand.

The Founding Fathers had lived under a government that denied them these rights, and they understood the cost of silence and suppression. That is why they enshrined these freedoms as the cornerstones of self-government, the safeguards of accountability and the guardians of liberty itself. For without free speech and free assembly, America could never truly remain free.

You can trace a direct line from the Founding Fathers to Abraham Lincoln to Charlie Kirk. In many ways, Kirk carried forward the traditions of the Founders — when parks, city squares and street corners became the great stages of democracy, where voices clashed, ideas collided and freedom found its fullest expression.

Nearly a century later, Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas faced off in open squares before massive crowds, embodying the very essence of free speech in action. Citizens gathered to hear competing visions for the future of the republic — often shouting, applauding, booing and jeering at statements.

Charlie Kirk brought that same spirit to college campuses — stepping into the heart of liberal strongholds and daring others to prove him wrong. He debated openly, challenged ideas and invited dialogue rather than silence.

In doing so, he echoed exactly what the Founders envisioned for America: a nation where freedom of speech thrives, where debate sharpens truth, and where liberty is kept alive by the courage of its citizens.

He said plenty of things that angered people. He didn’t mince words and never shied away from a fight with the left.

You may disagree with his views — many did. But we must never forget: America is at its strongest when ideas clash without violence, when debate is fierce but not hateful and when free speech is defended not just for ourselves but for those we oppose.

That is how freedom endures. That is how the republic survives.

Twenty-four years ago, we vowed that terrorists would never win. From the rubble, the American spirit rose stronger than before. Our way of life endured because the strength of this nation rests in the courage of its people, the resilience of its ideals and the unshakable belief that liberty is worth defending at any cost.

Now, once again, we are called to defend freedom.

Our answer must be clear: Speak louder, debate more fiercely and hold fast to the principles that define us.

Let us honor Charlie Kirk’s memory by carrying forward the traditions he embodied — fearless speech, open assembly, unflinching debate. In doing so, we show the world that America remains unbroken. And we affirm to every enemy of freedom: You will not silence us. You will not conquer us. Liberty will always endure.

Never forget 9/11. R.I.P. Charlie Kirk. God bless the United States of America.

Matt Wylie is a South Carolina-based Republican political strategist and analyst with over 25 years of experience working on federal, state and local campaigns.

This story was originally published September 11, 2025 at 4:13 PM.