Janelle Irwin Taylor
U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a close ally to conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, is calling for a permanent statue in the U.S. Capitol honoring Kirk, who was assassinated while speaking at a college in Utah.
In a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Luna, a Republican who represents Florida’s 13th Congressional District in Pinellas County, called Kirk “a patriot, a father, and a fearless voice for conservative values.”
“His death is a wound to our nation, a stark reminder of the escalating political violence fueled by the divisive and hateful rhetoric from the Left,” she wrote, blaming Democrats for the culture that leads to political violence against conservative figures.
Luna previously worked as a director at Turning Point USA, the conservative advocacy group Kirk founded promoting youth engagement in civic processes.
After news broke Wednesday that Kirk had succumbed to the sole gunshot wound to his neck, Luna hinted at her frustration with the political left.
“I am done with the rhetoric this rotten House and corrupt media has caused. EVERY DAMN ONE OF YOU WHO CALLED US FASCISTS DID THIS,” she posted.
“You were too busy doping up kids, cutting off their genitals, inciting racial violence by supporting orgs that exploit minorities, protecting criminals, and stirring hate. YOU ARE THE HATE you claim to fight. Your words caused this. Your hate caused this. Charlie. His family. Those kids. No one deserved this. Enough is enough.”
On Thursday, Luna said in her letter to Johnson that a statue would “stand as a reminder that political disagreement must never be answered with violence, and that the fight for truth must carry on.”
She added that while “responsibility for violence rests with the perpetrator, we must confront the broader cultural intolerance that enabled such a tragedy.”
“Hateful rhetoric from the Left has created a toxic environment where one side finds it acceptable to stoke fear and violence to silence civil dissent,” she wrote, reiterating the previous day’s statement about the Left being “the hate they claim to fight.”
It’s worth noting that congressional Democrats and other Democratic leaders have condemned all political violence, including former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, members of Florida’s congressional delegation, and more.
President Donald Trump, whose 2024 election was helped by Kirk engaging youth in politics, has already ordered flags to be at half-staff through Sept. 14 nationwide on public buildings, landmarks and locations.
On Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis also ordered flags at half-staff for the same duration at local and state buildings, installations and grounds in Florida.
While Luna led the letter to Johnson, several other U.S. Representatives also signed on, including Byron Donalds, who is running for Florida Governor. Other signatories include U.S. Reps. Andy Biggs, Lauren Boebert, Mary Miller, Barry Moore, Dan Newhouse, Andy Ogles, Michael Rulli, Jefferson Van Drew and Derrick Van Orden. All are Republicans.
