This tribute begins with an abridged statement by Lyle Shelton, national director of the Family First party and former head of the Australian Christian Lobby when its headquarters was bombed.
Charlie Kirk rose to prominence by venturing on to university campuses and engaging in honest discussion.
He challenged woke orthodoxy and the left hated him for it.
He would argue pro-life and pro-marriage and family positions with hostile students and academics.
“Change my mind” was his mantra.
Anyone could come to the microphone.
“CHARLIE WAS NEVER RUDE, ALWAYS GRACIOUS”
While he could be robust, he was never rude, always gracious.
He debated; he didn’t demonise.
On July 28 Kirk posted on social media:
“Get married, have kids, and stop partying into oblivion. Leave a legacy, be courageous. Happy Sunday. God bless all the parents out there.”
KIRK TRAGEDY BROUGHT BACK BOMB ATTACK MEMORIES FOR LYLE SHELTON
Many of us in the pro-family movement have felt his murder as a deep gut punch and sobering wake up call.
My mind immediately went back to the bombing of the office inhabited by me and a courageous team in 2016.
At that time, the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) was one of the few voices in our nation arguing for the things Charlie was killed for.
RECALLING THE 2016 BOMBING OF THE AUSTRALIAN CHRISITIAN LOBBY
At about 9pm four days before Christmas, a same-sex marriage political activist drove a car bomb to our office and detonated it, causing $100,000 in damages.
The Australian Federal Police, despite knowing the identity and political history of the assailant, declared that there was no political, religious or ideological motivation for the attack.
This was later proven false when court documents were obtained by the media.
The point is Australia is not immune from politically motivated violence against those who advocate for the truth about marriage and family.
“NO PLACE FOR VIOLENCE IN POLITICAL DISCOURSE”
Our Jewish community have been frequent victims in the last two years at the hands of Hamas sympathisers.
There is no place for violence in the political discourse.
All Kirk sought was debate and discussion.
That’s how free people in democracies sort out their differences.
But while proclaiming love and tolerance, too many on the left exhibit hate, something Charlie never did.
“FAMILY FIRST WILL NOT BACK DOWN”
He paid the ultimate price for the beliefs millions of mainstream Australians hold in the face of a radical left determined to re-shape our society, one child’s gender identity at a time.
Whilst Kirk’s assassination is chilling and sobering, Family First will not back down.
AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIAN LOBBY’S TRIBUTE
“Charlie was known for his boldness in the public square and his determination to raise up a generation willing to enter the contest of ideas,” writes the ACL.
“He was unafraid to speak on issues that matter, convinced that truth should be debated and defended openly and without fear.”
GOSPEL WAS CENTRAL TO CHARLIE KIRK’S MESSAGE
“Central to his message was the Gospel of Jesus Christ — the Good News he so often pointed others to, and the foundation of his hope.”
“Challenge. Debate. Robust conversation.”
“These are the markers of a free society — the way good ideas rise, shape culture, and change the world for the better.”
“FREEDOM PROTECTS WHERE TRUTH CAN BE SPOKEN, TESTED AND HEARD”
“Violence only silences. Debate strengthens.”
“A nation that allows its citizens to wrestle openly with truth, to discover what is right and expose what is wrong, is a nation that will flourish.”
“Charlie’s death is a sobering reminder that political violence must never be allowed to replace dialogue.”
“Freedom of speech is not about agreeing with every voice.”
“It is about protecting the space where truth can be spoken, tested, and heard.”