The Murder of a True American Patriot and Defender of Israel Demands Our Unwavering Response

Washington, D.C. – September 11, 2025 – – The Liberty Values & Strategy Foundation condemns in the strongest possible terms the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a brilliant American patriot whose unwavering commitment to democratic discourse and steadfast defense of Israel embodied the very principles upon which our nation was founded.

Charlie Kirk was more than a conservative activist—he was a true defender of liberty, democracy, justice, and human rights. His assassination at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, represents not merely the tragic loss of one voice, but a direct assault on the foundational values that have guided this nation since 1776: the sacred right to free speech, open debate, and the peaceful exchange of ideas

Our Foundation's Core Values Under Attack

Liberty Values & Strategy Foundation stands as a beacon for those committed to a future where democracy, liberty, justice, and human rights are protected by strong, trusted institutions and informed, empowered citizens. Charlie Kirk exemplified these values in every aspect of his public service. His "Prove Me Wrong" campus tour embodied the very essence of democratic discourse—creating forums where competing ideas could be challenged, debated, and refined through reason rather than violence

Kirk's assassination strikes at the heart of what we defend: the fundamental principle that in America, ideas must compete in the marketplace of discourse, not be silenced by the barrel of a gun. His murder represents nothing less than an act of political terrorism designed to intimidate and silence those who dare to engage in the democratic process.

A Champion of Israel and Democratic Values

Charlie Kirk was not merely a supporter of Israel—he was a lion-hearted defender of the Jewish state and a stalwart advocate for Judeo-Christian civilization. As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu observed, Kirk "fought the lies and stood tall for Judeo-Christian civilization" and possessed "boundless pride in America and valiant belief in free speech". His unwavering support for Israel made him a target for those who seek to silence pro-Israel voices in American discourse.

Throughout his career, Kirk demonstrated that supporting Israel and defending American democratic values were inseparable causes. His visits to Israel, his defense of the U.S.-Israel alliance, and his opposition to antisemitism represented the finest traditions of American foreign policy and moral leadership. When he declared, "My whole life I have defended Israel," he spoke not just as an advocate, but as an American patriot who understood that Israel's survival and America's democratic ideals are fundamentally intertwined.

Statement from Dr. Fundji Benedict, Founder & CEO

Dr. Fundji Benedict, Founder and CEO of Liberty Values & Strategy Foundation, issued the following statement:

"Today, we mourn not only Charlie Kirk, but the very soul of American democracy itself. Like the Founding Fathers who risked their lives to establish this republic, Charlie understood that freedom of speech is not merely a constitutional right—it is the cornerstone upon which all other liberties depend.

Charlie Kirk embodied what James Madison envisioned when he wrote Federalist No. 10: that in a free society, the remedy for faction is more speech, not enforced silence. His assassination represents precisely the 'violence of faction' that Madison warned would destroy republican government if left unchecked.

As someone who has dedicated her life to defending human rights, combating antisemitism, and protecting democratic institutions, I recognize that Charlie's murder is not an isolated act—it is part of a global assault on free expression that we see from authoritarian regimes worldwide. When university campuses become killing fields for political discourse, we have crossed a line that threatens the very foundation of our democratic experiment.

Charlie was a true defender of Israel at a time when antisemitism is rising globally. His courage in standing with the Jewish state, even when it made him a target, exemplifies the moral clarity that America desperately needs. His assassination sends a chilling message to every American who dares to defend Israel or challenge prevailing orthodoxies: speak at your own peril.

But we will not be silenced. The Liberty Values & Strategy Foundation was founded on June 11, 2025—exactly 249 years after the Continental Congress appointed the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence—to carry forward the principles of liberty, self-governance, and human dignity that our Founders established. Charlie Kirk's legacy demands that we honor those principles not with silence, but with courage.

In this dark hour, we must remember what Benjamin Franklin understood: that those who would give up essential liberty to purchase temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. The assassin who murdered Charlie Kirk sought to purchase safety for his ideology by eliminating a voice of opposition. We must not allow that transaction to succeed.

The torch that Charlie Kirk carried—the flame of free speech, democratic discourse, and unwavering support for Israel—now passes to all of us. We must carry it forward with the same courage he demonstrated, the same commitment to truth he embodied, and the same love of country that defined his life.

This is our moment to stand up. This is our moment to speak louder, not softer. This is our moment to prove that American democracy cannot be murdered by a single bullet, that the marketplace of ideas cannot be closed by an act of terror, and that the principles Charlie Kirk died defending will live on in every American who refuses to be silenced by fear.

As Madison warned us, the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are 'justly considered deeply, perhaps as finally, staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.' Charlie Kirk understood that experiment was under attack. Now it falls to us to ensure that his sacrifice was not in vain.

We will not let democracy die on our watch. We will carry the torch."

The Founding Fathers' Vision Lives On

The assassination of Charlie Kirk represents an attack on the very principles that James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington died to establish. When the Continental Congress declared that "governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed," they created a system dependent upon free and open discourse. Charlie Kirk's "Prove Me Wrong" format embodied this principle perfectly—inviting challenge, encouraging debate, and trusting in the power of reason to reveal truth.

Madison's warning in Federalist No. 10 resonates with particular urgency today: that the greatest threat to republican government comes from the "violence of faction"—when political differences are resolved through force rather than persuasion. Kirk's assassination represents precisely such violence, an attempt to silence opposing viewpoints through the ultimate act of intimidation.

As George Washington declared when faced with potential military revolt, "If men are to be precluded from offering their sentiments on a matter which may involve the most serious and alarming consequences... reason is of no use to us; the freedom of speech may be taken away, and dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter". Charlie Kirk refused to be led to slaughter—and paid the ultimate price for his courage.

A Call to Action: Defending Democracy Against Political Terrorism

The Liberty Values & Strategy Foundation calls upon all Americans—regardless of political affiliation—to recognize that Charlie Kirk's assassination represents a clear and present danger to our democratic institutions. Political terrorism cannot be allowed to succeed. When bullets replace ballots, when violence substitutes for voting, when assassination becomes an acceptable tool of political discourse, the American experiment itself is at risk.

We demand:

• Full federal investigation of this act of domestic terrorism, with all resources devoted to bringing Kirk's assassin to justice

• Enhanced security for political figures and activists engaging in public discourse

• Recommitment from educational institutions to protecting free speech and open debate on campus

• Unified condemnation from political leaders across the spectrum of violence as a tool of political change

The Torch Passes to Us

Charlie Kirk understood what every American must now grasp: that democracy is not a spectator sport, that freedom is not free, and that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance. His assassination was designed to silence not just one voice, but to intimidate all Americans into abandoning the public square.

We will not be intimidated. We will not be silenced. We will carry the torch.

The principles Charlie Kirk died defending—free speech, democratic discourse, and unwavering support for Israel—are now entrusted to every American who refuses to let fear triumph over freedom. In his memory, and in defense of the democratic experiment our Founders established, we must speak louder, not softer; engage more deeply, not retreat; and defend more fiercely the principles that make America the beacon of liberty for the world.

As Thomas Jefferson inscribed for posterity, "I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." The assassin who murdered Charlie Kirk represented precisely such tyranny. Our response must embody Jefferson's eternal hostility to those who would silence free thought through violence.

The sacred fire of liberty burns on. Democracy will prevail. And Charlie Kirk's legacy—the unwavering belief that truth emerges through courage, not cowardice; through dialogue, not bullets; through the strength of ideas, not the force of arms—will illuminate the path forward for every American willing to carry the torch.