Political activist and author Charlie Kirk was shot dead while addressing a gathering at the University of Utah. Following this incident, the internet was stunned by the videos that went viral of the incident, as the country stood still for a moment over what they had just witnessed.
Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. and other former NBA players were among the several celebrities who took to social media to express their remorse over the incident.
Porter Jr. did not even know Kirk, yet he took the time to write a personal message to him.
“I just saw that Charlie Kirk video…. no way bro!!!” wrote Porter Jr in disbelief. “RIP to Charlie smh. I never watched his stuff, but nobody deserves to die like that. Man had a wife and kids. He was killed for sharing their opinions and giving others the opportunity to share theirs as well. This is sad, man… praying for the family,” he further added on his Instagram Story.
Former NBA players Dwight Howard and Patrick Beverley also responded to this incident on social media.
“Pray for the world, violence is never the answer!” wrote the Hall of Famer Howard on X.
“RIP Prayer for his Family and Children !!! Damn, Sad,” wrote the former Clippers guard Patrick Beverley on X.
No matter what your political beliefs are, nobody deserves to die like this. It doesn’t matter how radical your beliefs are; you do not deserve to be executed by a man or a woman who has taken the role of the judge, jury, and executioner themselves.
The authorities had reportedly held a suspect in custody, but he has now been released. In the modern era of social media, where the exchange of opinions is free of cost, even NBA players face death threats online.
Just earlier this summer, Michael Porter Jr spoke about the different types of pressures that even athletes face from their fans.
“Obviously, my brother is in his situation, Malik Beasley is going through his situation, Terry Rozier is in hot water,” said Porter Jr. “But the whole sports gambling thing is only going to get worse, and we really do get death threats. You can’t win anymore because if I do too good I’m messing with people who bet on the under, and if they bet on my over… so you’re always messing up some people’s money.”
While there is yet to be a change in legislation despite multiple such shootings giving reasons to regulate arms proliferation in the country, this incident should seriously make society as a whole rethink its choices of resorting to gun violence as a solution for anything.
