By Reuters

Copyright staradvertiser

WASHINGTON >> The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday passed a resolution honoring conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, who was killed last week while addressing a college audience in Utah.

The Republican-controlled chamber voted 310-58 to approve the measure, which honors Kirk’s life and legacy while also condemning political violence, including Kirk’s assassination.

Kirk’s killing last week while he addressed a college audience in Utah has sparked a political furor across the U.S., with President Donald Trump and his allies vowing a crackdown on left-leaning groups that they portray as bent on undermining national unity.

There is no evidence the 22-year-old Utah man who killed Kirk with a single rifle shot had organized outside help in plotting his attack. The House vote divided the chamber’s Democrats. Some have objected to Kirk’s past statements on transgender rights and other hot-button issues, while others said they should not fall into a political trap by voting against a measure that condemns political violence.

In the end, 95 Democrats joined 215 Republicans to vote for the resolution, while 58 voted against it and 38 voted “present.”

Rep. Ed Case voted in favor of the resolution. In a statement to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, the Hawaii Democrat said, “I voted for the Kirk resolution because it condemns his murder and, as it says, ‘calls upon all Americans – regardless of race, party affiliation, or creed – to reject political violence, recommit to respectful debate, uphold American values, and respect one another as fellow Americans’.”

Hawaii Rep. Jill Tokuda, also a Democrat, voted “present.”

In a statement to the Star-Advertiser, she said, “It’s critically important for the security of our democracy to have both Republicans and Democrats go on record opposing all politically motivated violence – however, the language in the resolution is politically charged and crafted as a trap to politicize the death of Charlie Kirk, making it difficult for members to vote in good conscience. No tragedy should be used to further divide our nation.”

She said that she is a cosponsor of a resolution condemning all forms of political violence, without politicizing any one incident.

“The condemnation of political violence must be unilateral across all parties and ideologies, regardless of who is hurt or what side they are on,” Tokuda said. “We cannot continue to ignore the consequences of allowing rhetoric that dehumanizes and demonizes political opponents. It’s on every one of us to condemn political violence, respect each other’s differences, and stand united in the core values and principles that define our nation—while refusing to let partisanship exploit loss and grief.”