Georgetown students react to flyers celebrating Charlie Kirk's murder
Campus safety concerns rise as posters linked to a far-left group surface; university investigates and national officials weigh in
Georgetown University said it is investigating after posters surfaced on campus that celebrate the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA. The flyers, reportedly posted by the John Brown Gun Club — described by the Center for Counter Extremism as a far-left group — appeared on the campus Wednesday and were removed within about 30 minutes, according to students who spoke with Fox News Digital. Additional posters appeared Thursday night, including one featuring a photo of Kirk with the slogans “Follow your leader” and “Rest in p-ss Charlie.” Video obtained by Fox News Digital showed Georgetown University police removing the flyers on Thursday.
Georgetown students described a climate of fear and anger in the wake of the postings. Jordan Van Slingerland, a senior international politics major and director of Campus Affairs for Georgetown’s College Republicans, told Fox News Digital his first emotion was fear. “What happened to Charlie Kirk hit myself and, of course, many of my friends on this campus very hard, and seeing the text that was on the bullet of the assassin that had taken his life, certainly, was a bit scary.” Elizabeth Oliver, a Georgetown senior and president of the university’s Right to Life group, said the posters were deeply upsetting and could endanger students who hold conservative views. “Over the years, I’ve heard many hateful things against conservatives, and this was so blatant and in people’s faces that it made me very worried for my other friends who share my similar beliefs.”
The flyers included several provocative elements. One depicted Kirk with the lines “Follow your leader” and “Rest in p-ss Charlie.” The phrase “Hey fascist! Catch!” appeared on another flyer, described by students as an apparent nod to a slogan authorities say was etched in a shell casing found near a rifle allegedly used to assassinate Kirk at Utah Valley University. The John Brown Gun Club has been described by the Center for Counter Extremism as a far-left organization. The flyers also identified the group as “the only political group that celebrates when Nazis die.”
Campus observers noted that a second round of postings appeared the following night, prompting more concern about the campus atmosphere for students with conservative viewpoints. Matthew Cosenza, a Georgetown freshman, said the incident reflected a broader pattern he has observed on campus. “I really wasn’t that surprised to see material like that on campus,” he said, noting that some posts have likened Trump to Hitler and conservatives to fascists in the past. Rowan O’Sullivan, a senior, added that while the rhetoric is troubling, he sees it as part of a larger, ongoing clash of ideas on campus. “Certainly, it’s out-of-control, but whatever version of leftism you want to call this is, I think, to some degree window dressing for bloodlust at the end of it,” he said, arguing the incident was not representative of Georgetown’s student body overall.
As the incident drew national attention, several students spoke about the impact on free speech and campus life. Van Slingerland, who also serves as a board member for conservative groups on campus, said he has faced threats of political violence since the 2016 election and that the climate remains hostile toward conservatives. Shae McInnis, a sophomore and treasurer of Georgetown’s College Republicans, indicated that some classmates have faced harassment on anonymous campus messaging platforms, which has been unsettling for students trying to participate in debate and student government. “I’ve heard from many people that they don’t want to get involved in groups like debate societies,” Oliver said, describing the chilling effect of anonymous attacks.
Georgetown released a statement Thursday saying the campus has “no tolerance for calls for violence or threats to the university.” The statement said the flyers were removed and the university is investigating the incident and working to ensure the safety of the community. Still, several students urged stronger actions from administration. Oliver warned that in a private institution, a more forceful response would signal that Georgetown will not tolerate violent rhetoric, a stance she said the university should demonstrate more clearly.
Cash Moore, a Georgetown sophomore and member of the College Democrats, said the initial poster in a group chat left him disappointed that violence could be viewed as productive. “The first thing I thought was a little disappointment that some people, perhaps on this campus, hold that violence is something that’s productive in society,” he said, though he emphasized concern about the potential for retaliation against the university. He added that the Trump administration’s attention to the incident could place Georgetown “in the crosshairs.”
The incident quickly drew reaction beyond campus. White House spokesperson Liz Huston told Fox News Digital that the administration sees political violence as a growing problem and suggested Georgetown’s handling of the incident would be watched. “This despicable act at Georgetown underscores just how mainstream political violence has become on the left and why Charlie Kirk’s work on college campuses was so important,” Huston said, adding that Kirk’s approach to dialogue and critical thinking should continue to guide civic engagement. The administration’s response came as the Education Department weighed in on how universities should respond to violent rhetoric on campuses; Education Secretary Linda McMahon posted a statement condemning the posters and urging Georgetown to determine what it stands for as an institution.
Officials with Georgetown have said they have spoken with campus police and are redeploying resources to protect students as needed. In a separate development, the department’s office said it has discussed the situation with university administrators as a reminder of the need to safeguard students and uphold free expression without endorsing violence. The discussions reflect a broader national conversation about how to balance free speech with safety on college campuses.
As the university continues its investigation, students acknowledge the need for a measured approach to speech and safety. Some said the incident underscores the dangers of political rhetoric that escalates into intimidation, while others stressed the value of open debate on campus as a long-standing tradition. “We do have a free speech right on this campus, and I think that’s something a lot of us value, and obviously a call to violence isn’t something that should take place,” Oliver said, reflecting a common tension on campuses nationwide. Yet many agreed that institutions must act decisively when violence is invoked or celebrated.
Georgetown did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on Friday. Peter D’Abrosca contributed to this report. Deirdre Heavey is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.