Rep. Sherrill Statement on House Passage of Charlie Kirk Resolution

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) released the following statement after voting “yes” on the resolution condemning the assassination of Charlie Kirk:

“I have taken countless oaths to the Constitution throughout my life, starting when I entered the Naval Academy at 18. I have volunteered to give everything, up to and including my life, for our freedoms and will always protect them. 

“I take my oath to the Constitution seriously. I believe in free speech. And that the First Amendment wouldn’t be necessary if it were only meant to cover language we agreed with. It is meant to protect people like Charlie Kirk who present vile dissenting views. But it is also meant to protect teachers, doctors, and TV comedians who may express views the president doesn’t like.

“Charlie Kirk was advocating for a Christian nationalist government and to roll back the rights of women and Black people — this flies in the face of every value I hold dear and that I fight for. But the Constitution protects free speech, even for those I vehemently oppose. 

“Meanwhile, President Trump has and continues to define hypocrisy at every turn. On one hand, he denounced Kirk’s politically motivated killing, while on the other hand, is instigating a witch hunt worthy of Joseph McCarthy to shut down the free speech rights of anyone who disagrees with Kirk’s racist, anti-American views. 

“Charlie Kirk’s murder was horrific, and it’s up to all of us to stand against political violence. In these times, I will continue to condemn political violence, racism, attacks on women, and the hypocrisy coming from Trump and his acolytes. I will never give up on protecting the rights and freedoms that we hold sacred.” 

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