By Idaho GOP Chairwoman Dorothy Moon
Today is a heavy day. Every year on this date, September 11, we remember the horrific events of that Tuesday morning in 2001. Thousands of innocent Americans lost their lives—fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and children who never came home. First responders put their own lives on the line, with many paying the ultimate sacrifice as they struggled to save others.
The repercussions of that awful morning remain with us to this day. It was a reminder that, despite the feeling at the time that we had reached the “end of history,” evil still exists in the world—and always will.
That truth was driven home in tragic fashion yesterday afternoon, when I learned that Charlie Kirk had been shot on a college campus in Utah. Like millions of good people throughout America and the world, I prayed he would be all right, and felt sick when I heard he did not survive. My heart goes out to his family—his wife, Erika, and their two young children, who must now grow up without their father.
Just like 9/11, this murder of a great young patriot was driven by hatred. The terrorists who hijacked four airplanes that morning had been taught to hate America, and they believed they were doing something noble by killing Americans.
Whoever pulled the trigger that killed Charlie Kirk also thought he was doing something good. His mind was probably warped by the endless indoctrination and incitement that have become routine in American schools, newsrooms, and even entertainment.
This is the face of evil.
Charlie Kirk was a statesman. He wasn’t on fringe podcasts calling for violence. He wasn’t organizing riots in the streets. He was doing what he was supposed to do: visiting college campuses and engaging in debate. His tools were not fists, guns, or Molotov cocktails, but words—just words.
Charlie Kirk set an example of statesmanship for countless young Americans. He walked his talk, going into hostile environments to have civil discussions with people who disagreed with him. Charlie was always willing to hear people out and even to change his mind from time to time.
Just like 9/11, I believe we will look back on this week as a turning point in American history. Just as 9/11 was a wake-up call to the threat of Islamic terrorism, September 10, 2025, should be a wake-up call to the threat of left-wing political violence. It’s time to enforce the law, hold accountable those who cheer on evil acts, and return our country to the path of goodness and civility. That is the cause to which Charlie dedicated his life, and it is up to us to carry on his legacy.
About Dorothy Moon
Dorothy Moon was elected to serve as the chairwoman of the Idaho Republican Party in July of 2022, and reelected in 2024. Moon served three terms in the Idaho Legislature as State Representative for District 8. Moon’s career in public service has focused on the advancement of individual liberties and reducing the size and scope of government.
