A resolution honoring the slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk and condemning political violence in all its forms passed the House by an overwhelming margin today, but not everyone in New Jersey’s congressional delegation was on board.
All three of the state’s Republican congressmen supported the resolution, as did Reps. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair), Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly), Nellie Pou (D-North Haledon), and Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch). But three of the more progressive members of the delegation – Reps. LaMonica McIver (D-Newark), Rob Menendez (D-Jersey City), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing) – opposed it. (Reps. Herb Conaway and Donald Norcross did not vote.)
In explaining her no vote, Watson Coleman said that while she condemns political violence and extends her sympathy to Kirk’s family, she does not want to lend her name to the legacy of a man who was a controversial and conservative figure during his life.
“The resolution voted on today called on members to honor the legacy of Charlie Kirk. I could not honestly lend my name to his legacy,” the congresswoman said. “Charlie Kirk had a conviction and passion for expressing his opinions and for moving them forward in the national conversation. Unfortunately, much of that legacy involved hateful rhetoric about many fellow Americans, specifically the LGBTQ community, Muslims, and other minorities, particularly Black women. For that reason, I could not vote for this resolution.”
Other Democrats had the same concerns about the resolution, but ultimately came to the opposite conclusion; Sherrill, the Democratic nominee for governor this year, said that she didn’t want her reservations about Kirk’s “vile” views to prevent her from condemning his assassination.
“Charlie Kirk was advocating for a Christian nationalist government and to roll back the rights of women and Black people – this flies in the face of every value I hold dear and that I fight for,” Sherrill said. “But the Constitution protects free speech, even for those I vehemently oppose.”
For Republicans like Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester), meanwhile, there was no hesitation on how to vote; Smith said after the resolution passed that Kirk was a “young, bright, articulate, and captivating citizen-leader” and that his death was a national tragedy.
“This legislation reflects the U.S. House of Representatives’ unwavering commitment to keep Charlie’s indomitable spirit, conservative values, and unifying messages alive in our country,” Smith said of the resolution, which he and Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis) co-sponsored. “In his name, let us recommit ourselves to emphatically rejecting and ending all forms of political violence, as well as continuing to practice our God-given rights to speak freely and responsibly.”
