The shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk is striking a chord across the nation and raising concerns about the rise of political violence in America.

Kirk was shot in front of thousands during his “Prove Me Wrong” college tour at Utah Valley University. The activist built his brand by challenging students to debate hot-button issues. Some criticized his rhetoric as divisive, while others — like Ohio Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel — praised his willingness to engage. Advertisement

“Every time I saw him, what I appreciated about him is that he was a thoughtful person in conversation,” Tressel said.

University of Cincinnati political science professor David Niven says the incident goes beyond one man.

“This is a terrible, tragic story about the fall of American politics and the degradatio

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