North in the South

Secretary Rubio, A country that welcomes people from across the world has every reason to take seriously those who respond to that welcome by celebrating the murder of its citizens. I urge the Department of State to enforce its announced policy toward foreign nationals who glorify political assassination, including a review of the recorded incident at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Following Charlie Kirk’s assassination, your Department established a clear position. Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau warned that foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are unwelcome and directed consular officials to review statements praising, rationalizing, or making light of the killing. You stated... “America will not host foreigners who celebrate the death of our fellow citizens.” At a Turning Point USA “Pick Up the Mic” event at UTSA, a participant later identified as Isa Casahuga, who introduced herself as “Pamper Baby” and described herself as an immigrant, used the microphone to recite a poem about Kirk’s assassination. Adapting the language of a familiar Christmas poem, she invoked the “Kirkiversary,” described “a shot to the neck,” and promoted a gathering called “Squirt for Kirk.” When Christian Collins challenged her conduct, she answered... “Baby, I’m thrilled.” She then turned her attention to the living speaker before her... “You’re brave for being out here,” she said, referring to his having “no protection” and no “neck brace.” That final remark is unforgivable. Having made one man’s fatal wound the centerpiece of her performance, she turned to the living speaker before her and drew attention to his vulnerability to the same violence. The warning to young conservatives willing to pick up a microphone was unmistakable... remember what happened to Charlie Kirk. Political assassination destroys more than a life and it attacks the freedom of everyone who must decide whether speaking publicly is worth the danger. Celebrating the killing extends that injury. It tells the victim’s family that their grief is entertainment and tells others entering public life that their deaths, too, may become an occasion for applause. A university microphone carries a particular responsibility. Open debate depends on people being willing to appear, disagree, and answer one another in public. Turning a speaker’s murder into a joke corrodes the conditions that make that exchange possible. A visa is a privilege. A privilege extended by the American people, held on good behavior, revocable by the American people. Celebrating the assassination of our citizens is the clearest failure of good behavior there is. Your Department recognized the gravity of celebrating political murder when it announced this policy. Isa Casahuga’s public celebration of that cruelty demands that the principle now be enforced. The people willing to stand before a microphone should never have to wonder whether the government takes the celebration of their possible murder as seriously as those celebrating it do.