A news broadcaster who was allegedly suspended for ‘honoring’ the late Charlie Kirk on air has said her decision to leave the company was ‘guided by values that are essential’ to who she is.
31-year-old Charlie Kirk was fatally shot whilst addressing an audience at a Utah Valley University event on September 10.
Officials have since named 22-year-old Tyler Robinson as the suspected assassin. They believe he fired the shot from a gun positioned on a rooftop overlooking the outdoor area where the father-of-two was speaking.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox has claimed the alleged shooter is currently ‘not cooperating’ with authorities whilst in custody.
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A slew of celebrities and political figures have since publicly condemned Kirk’s killing, including Terminator star and former Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and ex-US Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
But Beni Rae Harmony, an Illinois TV anchor, has branded herself the ‘first to be targeted’ for honoring the political activist on air.
On Friday (September 12), she paid tribute to her ‘mentor and first boss’ during a broadcast on Springfield’s ABC affiliate WICS. After calling the influencer someone who encouraged her to chase her dreams, she urged audiences to stand up for what they believed in.
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According to Harmony, she was suspended by WICS after the broadcast aired, which led to her decision to resign from her role.
In an official announcement on Facebook, Harmony made it clear that her moral compass guided her choice.
“This is guided by values that are essential to who I am, to which I refuse to set aside, in order to keep a job. I choose my faith, and love of country, and always will.”
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She signed off the message: “God Bless Our Troops. God Bless Our First Responders, and God Bless these United States of America.
In a follow up post on Twitter, Harmony claimed her resignation from the TV broadcaster came after she was ‘suspended for airing a non-partisan tribute to Charlie Kirk’.
“Many in the mainstream media have been fired or punished for mocking his assassination. I believe I am the first to be targeted for honoring him on air,” the broadcaster continued via an X post.
After thanking viewers in Springfield, she added: “God Bless Charlie Kirk and his beautiful family, and God Bless these United States of America.”
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Meanwhile, right-wing Americans have allegedly been ‘doxxing’ anybody who has spoken ill of the Turning Point USA founder, with the website ‘Expose Charlie’s Murderers’ being set up by campaigners, as per Reuters.
The site features the names of numerous social media users who have reportedly made negative comments about Kirk's death.
MSNBC analyst Matthew Dowd has already been fired from the network for comments made during a live broadcast, which he has since apologized for, as well as a doctor at Englewood Health who ‘celebrated’ his death.
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The idea of informing employers of staff speaking ill of Kirk’s murder has since been backed up by the current sitting US Vice President, JD Vance.
“Call them out, and hell, call their employer," Vance said as he guest-hosted an episode of the Charlie Kirk Show. "We don't believe in political violence, but we do believe in civility.”
If you or someone you know has been affected by gun violence, please find more information and support via Survivors Empowered on their website.
Topics: Charlie Kirk, Crime, Gun Crime, News, Politics, Social Media, US News
Ella Scott