Utah Gov. Spencer Cox made an impassioned plea on Friday for Americans and young people to use the horror of Charlie Kirk’s public assassination as an inflection point to turn the country away from political violence and division.
“This is our moment: Do we escalate or do we find an off-ramp?” Cox stated during a press conference while announcing that authorities had a suspect in Kirk’s killing in custody. “It’s a choice.”
Cox, a two-term Republican governor, is known for advocating bipartisan cooperation and has drawn national attention for his empathetic remarks throughout his political career. His address on Friday represented a particularly emotional and high-profile example of his call for common ground and humanity to build a better society. This approach contrasts sharply with the confrontational rhetoric often employed by politicians in recent years, including former President Donald Trump, who has linked Kirk’s killing to “radical left” discourse.
Reflecting on the grueling days of a manhunt for Kirk’s shooter, Cox appeared visibly exhausted yet resolute in his message.
He emphasized that responding to violence with more violence only exacerbates the issue. “And that’s the problem with political violence,” he noted. “It metastasizes because we can always point the finger at the other side. Eventually, we must find an exit or face even greater deterioration.”
Cox urged individuals to see this moment as a pivotal choice, stating, “History will determine if this is a turning point for our country. Yet, every one of us can choose right now if this will be a momentous change for us.”
Targeting his remarks at the youth in particular, he expressed concern over an environment where political discourse is dominated by anger. “You are inheriting a country where politics feels like rage. It feels like rage is the only option,” he said.
However, Cox encouraged the younger generation to cultivate a distinctly different narrative. “Your generation has the opportunity to build a culture that is very different from what we are suffering through right now.”
Addressing the circumstances surrounding Kirk's assassination, he noted the suspect had become “more political” prior to the tragic event, which occurred on a university campus. He also raised concerns about the role of social media in normalizing violence, asserting that it was tragic that Kirk’s death was presented so graphically online.
“We are not wired biologically to process those types of violent imagery,” Cox stated. “This is not good for us; it is not good to consume. Social media is a cancer on our society right now.”
