House Passes Resolution Honoring Charlie Kirk and Condemning Political Violence

"...The vote was 310-58, with more than 90 Democrats joining all Republicans in voting yes on the nonbinding resolution...."

"...The 58 no votes all came from Democrats, and another 38 Democrats voted present...."

"...While all lawmakers have denounced Kirk’s killing, some Democrats had wanted the party to make a more forceful stand against the Kirk resolution...."

"...While few spoke out against the resolution publicly before the vote, critics have pointed out that Kirk had disparaged Martin Luther King Jr., called the Civil Rights Act of 1964 a “huge mistake” and was a vocal opponent of transgender rights...."

"...The issue has not only split Democrats, but it has also split progressive leaders in the party...."

"...Friday's vote ends an emotional and tense week on Capitol Hill as members grappled with Kirk's death...."

"...Earlier in the week, the House narrowly rejected a separate GOP resolution to censure Omar and strip her of her committee assignments for criticizing Kirk...."

"...The broader five-page resolution, sponsored by Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was discussed during House Democrats’ closed-door caucus meeting Thursday...."

"...Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., told rank-and-file members that he and members of his leadership team would vote yes on the Kirk resolution, according to three Democratic sources in the room...."

"...But Jeffries advised members that they could make up their own minds and vote their conscience, given that it’s such a unique situation, the sources in the room said...."

"...The resolution condemns Kirk’s assassination, offers condolences to his family and praises him as a “courageous American patriot” who peacefully debated his critics in public...."

"...It honored Kirk for “engaging in respectful, civil discourse across college campuses, media platforms, and national forums, always seeking to elevate truth, foster understanding, and strengthen the Republic; exercising the First Amendment with “honor, courage, and respect for his fellow Americans”; and working “tirelessly to promote unity without compromising on conviction.”..."

"...In addition, the resolution also calls upon all political leaders to “stand united in unequivocal condemnation of political violence, regardless of their ideology“ and calls on “all Americans—regardless of race, party affiliation, or creed — to reject political violence, recommit to respectful debate, uphold American values, and respect one another as fellow Americans.”..."

"...Kirk's funeral will be held Sunday in Arizona. The president and other major Republican leaders are expected to attend...."

"...In a floor speech honoring Kirk, Johnson said the activist was "never motivated by hatred" for his political opponents...."

"...And so even though he could defeat anybody in a debate so often — and I saw this myself when he would vanquish someone in a policy argument — he was the first person after that to reach out a hand of friendship or offer an arm around the shoulder of someone who he had just defeated in a contest...."

"...Why? Because it wasn't about winning ... the policy arguments. It was about the people...."

"...And Charlie loved vigorous debate, but he loved people more...."