Georgetown flyers tie leftist gun club to violence, echo Kirk killing
Flyers found on Georgetown campus reference Charlie Kirk’s death and promote a militant group linked to the John Brown Gun Club, prompting a university investigation amid rising campus tensions.
Georgetown University is investigating after recruiting flyers tied to the John Brown Gun Club were discovered posted on campus, referencing the Sept. 10 assassination of Charlie Kirk at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University. The red flyers—some calling conservatives to “catch” their alleged killers—also included a QR code and language that supporters described as building a community committed to “ceremonial resistance” and urging interested students to connect. The messaging appears to echo a slogan reportedly found on a shell casing connected to the Kirk case, which is the subject of ongoing legal proceedings related to Tyler Robinson, who is accused in Kirk’s death.
Sophomore Shae McInnis, a Georgetown student and treasurer of the College Republicans, found the posters on Wednesday morning on the campus activity board. She told Fox News Digital that she viewed the messages as a direct threat against conservatives and others who dissent from the prevailing left-leaning orthodoxy on campus. “So, obviously I read this immediately as a threat, not only for me but for everyone on this campus,” McInnis said. “Every conservative, everyone who just does not subscribe to the prevailing leftist orthodoxy. This is a direct threat against them.” She added that the posters appeared to target anyone with divergent political views.
The flyer includes a QR code and language that purportedly invites readers to join a community “done with ceremonial resistance,” claiming it offers a pathway to “real change” in the community. The phrase about resistance and real change is cited in reporting as a nod to the broader violent rhetoric surrounding Kirk’s death. The Center for Counter Extremism has identified the John Brown Gun Club as a far-left group, and Georgetown officials say they are reviewing the incident and ensuring campus safety.
The John Brown Gun Club is described in the district’s reporting as a nationwide organization whose members have at times appeared armed at left-wing events, citing its involvement in anti-ICE actions. The Ohio Valley and Pacific Northwest chapters have been mentioned in prior coverage, and the Elm Fork chapter has been tied to security activity at events. In one widely cited case, Willem van Spronsen was killed in 2019 as he attempted to attack an ICE detention facility. In 2023, a John Brown Gun Club member, Benjamin Song, was described by federal authorities as involved with a skirmish with the New Columbia Movement in Fort Worth, Texas. Song is wanted in connection with a July 4, 2025, attack on ICE agents in Alvarado, Texas; the New Columbia Movement says Song served as security with the JBGC’s Elm Fork Chapter at the time.
Georgetown University officials stressed that the school has zero tolerance for calls for violence or threats to the university. A spokesman said the flyers were removed and that the university is investigating the incident and working to ensure the safety of the broader community. The university’s response comes as debates about safety and free expression on campus intensify in the wake of Kirk’s murder and related online and on-campus rhetoric.
The broader national context around Kirk’s death has prompted discussion among lawmakers, researchers, and campus safety officials about the rise of political violence and the ways online rhetoric can translate into real-world threats. UVU officials and other observers have warned that the period following Kirk’s death has seen an uptick in provocative and sometimes threatening actions on and off college campuses. In this environment, Georgetown’s incident has drawn attention to the tension between protesting and intimidation as universities seek to preserve open discourse while protecting students and staff.
Georgetown officials emphasized that university values center on civil dialogue and safety, noting that the flyers targeted political beliefs and were not reflective of the campus at large. As the investigation continues, students, faculty, and administrators are watching closely to see whether the appearance of such materials represents a broader pattern rather than an isolated incident.
The evolving landscape of political violence and campus activism remains a focal point for researchers and law enforcement, particularly as the Charlie Kirk case and related incidents continue to influence conversations about safety, free speech, and the responsibilities of political groups and college campuses alike.
