Irish Deputy Premier Condemns Silence on Charlie Kirk Killing

The European Parliament witnessed a contentious refusal of a minute of silence to honor Charlie Kirk, a slain US activist and ally of President Donald Trump, sparking clashes between far-right and left-wing lawmakers. Kirk was shot dead at Utah Valley University by a sniper who escaped the scene, and investigations continue into the political violence surrounding the incident. Irish Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris condemned the assassination as appalling and highlighted the need for consistent condemnation of political violence, regardless of differing views, noting that silence on such acts is problematic. Harris and other Irish leaders also emphasized the global rise in political violence and the role of social media algorithms in potentially radicalizing vulnerable individuals. The leader of Ireland's Green Party called for a review and possible disabling of social media recommender systems to prevent the spread of violent content. Taoiseach Micheál Martin joined in condemning the assassination, underscoring the extreme nature of violence faced worldwide today.