Supporters of far-right "martyr" Charlie Kirk are hunting down his online critics
Washington DC - For some Americans on the far right, Charlie Kirk died a "martyr" and any criticism of the hugely popular conservative activist must be punished.
Online vitriol and grassroots persecution have exploded in the wake of the assassination of the 31-year-old, who had been an electrifying presence on the US right, with the killing further deepening fraught political divisions in the country.
Laura Sosh-Lightsy, assistant dean of students at a university in the southern state of Tennessee, found herself in hot water after posting on social media about Kirk's death.
"Hate begets hate. ZERO sympathy," she said on Facebook after the killing, which happened Wednesday in front of a large crowd at a university in Utah.
Republican US Senator Marsha Blackburn quickly called out the comment – and Sosh-Lightsy.
"This person should be ashamed of her post. She should be removed from her position," the Tennessee lawmaker said.
Middle Tennessee State University's president announced that same night an employee's firing for a "callous" comment about Kirk.
Kirk, who rallied his millions of followers to help President Donald Trump win a second White House term, was both revered and reviled for his pro-gun, anti-abortion, and anti-immigrant rhetoric.
Shooting suspect Tyler Robinson, who was arrested Thursday, is said to have engraved anti-fascist messages on his bullet casings. This has led to a large part of the American right labeling him a "far-left" killer.
MAGA political figures call out anti-Charlie Kirk posts: "These people hate us"
Some Kirk supporters have turned into online sleuths, searching out accounts that praised or celebrated Kirk's murder. These efforts have targeted teachers, firefighters, and even military personnel, some of whom have lost their jobs.
"If they have their picture on their profile, even without a name, download the picture and reverse image search it," conservative influencer Joey Mannarino said. "Cross-reference it with their LinkedIn profile and find their place of employment. Call the place of employment, leave Google reviews."
Trump, who praised Kirk as a "giant of his generation," has led the US government in memorializing the activist, with high-ranking US officials working to weed out critics of Kirk and his legacy.
The president ordered flags lowered to half-staff in honor of his ally, and Kirk's body was flown from Utah to his home in Phoenix, Arizona, aboard Air Force Two, escorted by Vice President JD Vance.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered members of the military to identify colleagues who mocked or celebrated Kirk's death.
US Under Secretary of State Christopher Landau declared that "foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country."
"I have been disgusted to see some on social media praising, rationalizing, or making light of the event, and have directed our consular officials to undertake appropriate action," he said in a post on X. "Please feel free to bring such comments by foreigners to my attention so the @statedept can protect the American people."
Laura Loomer, a far-right conspiracy theorist who has Trump's ear, has been one of the most high-profile attackers of Kirk's critics. She denounced an employee of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), who had expressed disgust on Instagram that flags would be lowered for "the literal racist homophobe misogynist."
Loomer shared the staffer's LinkedIn profile and said: "These people hate us. They don't belong near the levers of our National Power."
Following Loomer's post, FEMA said the employee was placed on leave for making "revolting and unconscionable" comments.
On Saturday, Kirk's organization, Turning Point USA, announced that a memorial service for its founder will be held on September 21 in a suburb of Phoenix.
The chosen venue hints at the expected turnout: a stadium normally home to a professional football team, with a seating capacity of more than 63,000.
Cover photo: Eric Thayer / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP