Extremist Groups Hated Charlie Kirk. They’re Using His Death to Radicalize Others

For years, extremist groups, achromatic nationalists, and militias for illustration nan Proud Boys and Oath Keepers saw Charlie Kirk not arsenic their ally, but arsenic their enemy.

Though Kirk denigrated trans people, Muslims, unmarried women, and galore minorities and advocated for an America pinch Christianity astatine nan center of each facet of life, he was, successful their view, a moderate. For some, his staunch support of Israel’s government made Kirk a target alternatively than a friend.

But successful nan contiguous aftermath of Kirk being fatally shot while speaking astatine a Turning Point USA arena Wednesday astatine Utah Valley University successful Orem, Utah, these aforesaid groups were speedy to framework nan incident arsenic an onslaught connected 1 of their own, portraying Kirk’s decease arsenic portion of what they spot arsenic an ongoing warfare against white, Christian men. The aforesaid groups were comparatively quiet connected Friday aft constabulary announced they had arrested a 22-year-old from Utah for nan sidesplitting who had nary evident ties to nan left.

These groups, galore of which person been comparatively dormant since nan wide arrests surrounding nan January 6 onslaught connected nan Capitol, person utilized nan outpouring of condolences astir Kirk’s decease arsenic a lightning rod, a awesome that they request to mobilize and return action. Many of them, including nan Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, person utilized Kirk’s decease arsenic a recruitment and radicalizing instrumentality to person his supporters to return a much utmost worldview.

“Nothing tin extremity what is coming,” Ryan Sánchez, nan leader of nan far-right National Network, who was caught connected video giving a Nazi salute during past year’s Conservative Political Action Conference, wrote connected his Telegram channel. “We are mobilizing young Nationalists to take sides our communities against nan Radical Left—we request your help!”

The appeals look to beryllium astatine slightest somewhat working: Sánchez’s station was accompanied by a screenshot showing a $1,000 aid he received connected Christian crowdfunding level GiveSendGo.

“This is nan opening of a activity that whitethorn specify our nation,” nan philanthropist wrote connected nan site. “Use it for bully and purge nan state of these insane ideologies.”

Another donor, who called himself “White Nationalist,” commented: “Time to return our state backmost fellas. Get to work!”

Sánchez, an acolyte of far-right influencer Nick Fuentes, has already mobilized. A video from a vigil for Kirk that Sánchez promoted successful Huntington Beach, California, connected Wednesday shows a group of men chanting: “White man conflict back.” He shared different image of himself speaking astatine nan vigil connected his Telegram channel, pinch nan caption: “DEATH TO THE LEFT.”

The video of nan chanting successful Huntington Beach was shared successful galore different extremist groups, including nan Anti-Communist Combat HQ transmission connected Telegram, which is simply a hub for amplifying antisemitic, racist, and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric from groups including Active Clubs and nan National Justice Party.