LEFT SIDE

Political Violence is the new norm

Cristina Palmieri

The acceptance of political violence is undeniably tearing at the fabric of America. Political violence is not new in our country – what is new is its popularity. Following the assassination of Charlie Kirk last week, many people shared their thoughts regarding his death on the internet. The overarching theme of many of his political adversaries was that “he got what he deserved.” This belief of Kirk receiving some sort of karma for his abrasive beliefs reminded me of other moments where this mantra was repeated. 

In November of 2024, former IDF soldier Max Long was knocked unconscious by multiple students at DePaul University. Long sat next to a sign promoting conversation about his time in the Israeli forces when multiple students began harassing him and ultimately physically assaulted him and his friend. While the First Amendment does not protect individuals from others disagreeing, it does protect individuals from being physically attacked for their beliefs.

Even the most recent event of Kirk’s assassination being on a college campus shows that these dangerous beliefs are being imposed on the future of our country: college students. As shown in a survey by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, over a third of U.S. college students agree that violence is acceptable to shut down campus speakers. Universities are supposed to be the one place where all ideologies can be acknowledged and taught. Shutting down opposing opinions does not make you steadfast on your own; it makes you uneducated. When these students eventually become world leaders, how will this policy of selective hearing evolve? 

This revolution of violence is going to destroy the principles that America was built on. Growth and education are impossible when being shot for exercising your First Amendment rights is no longer an unreasonable fear.