Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., has called on social media executives, including Elon Musk, to remove graphic footage of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination from their platforms.
“I am calling on @elonmusk, @finkd and @tiktok_us to remove the horrifying videos of Charlie Kirk’s murder. He has a family, young children, and no one should be forced to relive this tragedy online,” Luna wrote Wednesday night on X, reported The Hill on Thursday.
“These are not the only graphic videos of horrifying murders circulating — at some point, social media begins to desensitize humanity,” she added. “We must still value life. Please take them down.”
Videos from Utah Valley University, where Kirk was speaking Wednesday afternoon, spread rapidly across X and other platforms moments after the shooting. The clips show the crowd panicking after Kirk was struck in the neck and collapsed. He was later pronounced dead.
The search for Kirk’s killer is ongoing. Utah authorities said Wednesday they detained two men but released them after questioning.
“We initially took in George Zinn as a suspect. He was later released and charged with obstruction by UVU police. A second suspect, Zachariah Qureshi, was taken into custody and released after interrogation with law enforcement,” the Department of Public Safety said.
Investigators believe the shooter fired from a rooftop at the gazebo where Kirk addressed attendees. Witnesses said the shot rang out just as Kirk was asked about mass shootings.
At least one other Republican lawmaker echoed Luna’s appeal. “Thank you!!! I agree completely! I NEVER want to see that again!! I hate that I saw it at all,” Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., wrote on X.
But others warned against removing the footage, citing free speech concerns, reported The Washington Examiner.
“Freedom of speech includes the content we don’t like or hate or bloody,” said Lily Tang Williams, a Republican candidate for a New Hampshire congressional seat in 2026. “We must defend it no matter how bad it is. I have faced evil before growing up in Mao’s China. We need to show evil exists in America, so we know what we are fighting against.”
Meanwhile, conservative commentators Keith and Kevin Hodge, better known as the Hodgetwins, said they disagreed with Luna because “people need to see what Democrat terrorism looks like.”
As of Thursday morning, Musk had not responded to Luna’s call to action.
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