North Michigan News

State Representative Parker Fairbairn, a Republican from Harbor Springs, issued a statement following the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. Kirk was shot and killed last week during a public speaking event in Utah.

“I’ve taken time to reflect on the brutal, public execution of Charlie Kirk — a man who inspired me to get involved, to serve, and to speak boldly but with openness. I grew up listening to Charlie. In fact, his call to action was what first drove me toward political service. Like him, I hold strong convictions and I believe in listening to others. And above all, I believe in the power of civil dialogue," Fairbairn said.

He compared the immediacy of witnessing Kirk’s death online to historical events that were not as quickly or clearly broadcast. “What made Charlie’s murder even more horrifying is how instantly we were able to witness it. In 1975, when Geraldo Rivera aired the Zapruder film of President Kennedy’s assassination, the world had waited nearly 12 years to see those images. They were distant, grainy. But in 2025, we saw everything — immediately, in full clarity, and with lasting impact. We saw a man killed not for breaking the law, but for expressing ideas.”

Fairbairn emphasized that Kirk would have wanted people to focus on broader issues rather than just his own death: “And we must say clearly: this is not just about Charlie. He would be the first to say so. He’d tell us to step back, define the problem, agree on the terms, and focus on what’s at stake.”

He warned against political violence and its threat to democratic institutions: “Political violence is not progress. It is the collapse of everything we hold dear. Self-government cannot survive if people are afraid to speak. A republic cannot last if we kill each other over differences of opinion. Political violence must stop. We cannot be so offended by alternative thoughts that the only solution becomes cold-blooded murder.”

Fairbairn pledged to continue advocating for free speech and civility: “I’m going to carry the torch, Charlie. I’m going to stand up even taller for the rights endowed by our creator. I’m going to work tirelessly to ensure that we restore grace and civility to our civil discourse. I will not be silenced by this. I will not hide out of fear.”

He concluded by stating: “The public assassination of a decent, honest man who stood for free speech and civil discourse is a line we cannot cross. This is not about how we feel; It’s about what we allow. And we must never allow this to happen ever again.”

Rep. Parker Fairbairn was elected in November 2024 as representative for Michigan's 107th District.