The MAGA superstar and conservative activist Charlie Kirk is dead. He was assassinated on Wednesday during a campus event in Utah.

There’s so much to say about this terrible incident. At the same time, it’s hard not to feel speechless. To start, it should, but unfortunately no longer does, go without saying that this kind of senseless political violence and terrorism ought to have no place in America. Those who have encouraged this type of terrorism, from Luigi Mangione fans to Republicans who cheered on violence against Nancy Pelosi’s husband, all should hang their heads in shame.

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But despite their grief, Kirk’s family can rightfully feel proud of the legacy this husband and father left behind. I disagreed with and criticized Kirk many times over the years. But Kirk’s legacy will be that of his beautiful family, the wildly successful organization he built in Turning Point USA, and his admirable, honorable commitment to free speech and open discourse. 

After all, what was Kirk most famous for?

Campus visits like the one at which he was murdered, where Kirk would sit down for hours simply to debate with students on the most contentious issues. Kirk would routinely admonish his fans to be respectful of the students who stepped up to the microphone, and even though they were rude to him, he would typically treat them with respect, no matter how vehement the disagreement. 

So, too, Kirk earned renown recognition for the viral “Jubilee” debates he did on YouTube, where he would debate 25 vs 1, yes, literally, against liberal college students and take a stand for his beliefs. Whether you agree with his underlying ideas or not, Kirk’s approach to discourse is admirable and exactly what America needs right now. 

Violence often begets more violence. Whether it’s the assassination attempts against President Donald Trump, the recent brutal murders of Democratic state lawmakers, or this latest atrocious murder, things appear to be spiraling out of control. If we don’t stop this disturbing trend, more bloodshed, chaos, and even civil war are not out of the realm of possibility.

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But if his life’s work is anything to go by, Charlie Kirk wouldn’t want his supporters to retaliate or support political violence in their own right. He would encourage people to keep doing what he did, and living up to the values of free speech, civil disagreement, and open debate that he built his career around.

May he rest in peace.

Brad Polumbo is an independent journalist and host of the Brad vs Everyone podcast.