Charlie Kirk assassination sparks concern over online political rhetoric

""It's often at times when we are at our most heated and most divided that someone decides the only recourse is a gun,""

""We don't really don't really know who the shooter was, we don't know motives, we don't know anything about what the political or non-political circumstances may be,""

""I'm getting texts from all over the country from my friends in conservative circles, both at the grassroots level and at the political level, where I operate. And the bluer the state, the more frightened and the more furious people are,""

""I hope people come and are authentic and share their true feelings," said Precious Green. "I hope that people will definitely put down their phones. This is not the sort of thing that needs to be processed on social media.""

An assassination of Charlie Kirk has intensified national tension and online conflict, raising fears that heated division can lead to violence. Observers note uncertainty about the shooter, motives, and political context, which complicates reactions and amplifies fear. Conservative networks report widespread alarm and fury, especially in bluer states. Local communities are organizing in-person conversations to counter social media-driven escalation, with hosts urging authentic sharing, reduced phone use, and calmer, face-to-face dialogue to lower the risk of shaming, retaliatory calls for violence, and further polarization.

Read at ABC7 San Francisco