Democratic senator calls internet an ‘accelerant’ driving extremism after Kirk killing
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A Democratic senator from Delaware is blaming the internet for “driving extremism in our country” following the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del,, appeared on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday. He told host Major Garrett that Americans cannot let political violence drive the country further apart, calling Kirk’s assassination “brutal” while discussing “the importance of the First Amendment of free speech.”
“No matter how much I might deeply disagree with his political views, the idea that he would be killed in such a grotesque and public way has to bring all of us to reflect about how hard it’s getting because the internet is an accelerant,” Coons said.
“It is driving extremism in our country. It’s driving us apart left and right,” he continued.
Kirk, 31, was gunned down at Utah Valley University on Wednesday during a stop on his “American Comeback Tour.” He was engaging in one of his signature debates with college students when a shot rang out. After being asked a question about transgender mass shooters, Kirk was shot in the neck. Authorities arrested suspected shooter Tyler Robinson on Friday after his father turned him in.
I’M A DEMOCRAT, AND CHARLIE KIRK’S MURDER MUST UNITE ALL AMERICANS AGAINST VIOLENCE
Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., appeared alongside Sen. Coons on the show Sunday.
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“The algorithm on social media is always pushing who’s the angriest, who’s loudest, who says the craziest thing,” he said. “So anytime that there is cogent dialog or an issue on something where people may disagree, but they’re having a civil conversation on it, that gets pushed aside towards someone that’s just angry and focused.”
Fox News Digital’s David Spector contributed to this report.