By Rk Raghavan

Copyright thehindubusinessline

The killing last week in Utah of Charlie Kirk, a young political activist and a radical Trump supporter, raises several questions with regard to social stability in the US. Days after the incident London of all places saw a large rally condemning the murder. It may not stop with London. I predict that this will snowball into a major conflagration not merely in the US but across Europe as well. One factor that is relevant here is the unstoppable migration from the underdeveloped nations to the more developed ones. Migrants bring in a new culture to different parts of the world that does not gel with what is already well rooted.

There are millions of disgruntled and frustrated youths the world over looking for an occasion to vent their grievances and choosing indiscriminate targets to attack. What is fundamental is the growing disregard for peace and order. The ‘new normal’ that is enchanting many is endorsing disruption in our daily lives.

Years ago, famous academic Samuel Huntington wrote a ponderous essay, ‘The clash of civilizations’, that raised the spectre of a world order that split the world into an Islamic and a non-population. The London protest is a harbinger difficult to ignore. We may soon see a schism that splits the globe into fascist and anti-fascist segments. It is an entirely different matter that ‘fascism’ means different things to different people.

Different proposition

The Kirk killing is a different proposition. It questions assumptions that were once based on mutual respect and a peaceful pursuit of one’s own convictions. President Trump and Vice-President Vance are not exactly promoting peace and harmony in American society. They are divisive and are talking the language of violence that could lead to more violence. Ideological division among people is understandable, but not when it is accompanied by violence and by guns in the streets. This is what is happening in the US.

Kirk was driven by passion in his fight against the Left. But he was grossly indiscreet in using language, which was often inflammatory. The motive of the assassin, Tyler Robinson (22), an engineering apprentice in a Utah technical institution, is still not known. The presumption of his guilt is derived from his scribbling on a towel used to wrap his gun and his own alleged confession. What is generally known is his antipathy to the Left. This was compounded by his sexual moorings. He was suspected to be having a questionable relationship with a transgender room-mate. Robinson’s was an unmitigated act of terror. There is no evidence that he belonged to any specific group. He fitted the definition of a “lone wolf”. Accusing any official of a slip-up in not having identified him and foiled his dastardly act is meaningless. We have had far too many acts like this wherein a motivated youth goes berserk. This phenomenon of an unstable youth drawn to terror makes the law enforcement official’s job all the more difficult. We can at best blame the family for not having kept a tab on a a youth drawing inspiration from a violent ideology. Many parents do not have a clue of what their wards are doing.

We grieve for Kirk’s young family. We don’t however approve of his reckless rhetoric. There is a lesson here for public figures: Freedom of speech has clear contours. If there is no sensitivity here, we will witness many more assassinations leading to fear, especially among the moderates.

The writer is a former CBI Director and a former Visiting Fellow at Harvard Law School

Published on September 17, 2025