Professors spread misinformation, claim Kirk alleged killer not necessarily leftist

ANALYSIS

The alleged killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk was not necessarily liberal, professors rushed to claim. Some have continued to stand by their claims despite evidence strongly suggesting the alleged killer was a leftist.

Boston University journalism Professor Joan Donovan alleged within days after the assassination that the markings on bullet casings and cartridges did not suggest a particular ideology.

Bullet casings read “hey fascist catch!,” “if you read this you are gay lmao,” and “notices, bulges OWO what’s this?” The last statement is a reference to transgenderism and furry subculture.

“With memes the message was really about talking to other would be shooters,” Donovan (pictured) said, referencing other mass shootings. “It wasn’t about communicating to the media or communicating even a serious message,” she told the Los Angeles Times. Donovan was previously pushed out of her role at Harvard University, where, among other claims, she said Trump won in 2016 because of memes.

Meanwhile, the founder of California San Bernadino’s Center for the Study of Hate said it was “increasingly difficult to immediately ascribe motivation as many lone young assailants are often a mix of grievance, mental distress and aggressions picked up in social circles and online.”

“Verbiage, memes, targeting, crude humor and cultural references that are immediately available often telegraph motives for violent symbolic attacks, but can also be amorphous or disjointed,” Professor Brian Levin told the LA Times.

Princeton University Professor Kevin Kruse joined in, even keeping a post up after ample evidence emerged indicating Kirk’s alleged killer hated the Turning Point leader’s view. Furthermore, Tyler Robinson was in a homosexual relationship with a gender-confused male who began “transitioning” to look like a female.

“When they thought he was on the left they blamed the entire left, but now that they know he is on the right they’re … blaming the entire left,” Kruse wrote on the evening of Sept. 12. The Bluesky post is still up as of Wednesday morning.

Authorities have known since at least Sunday that Robinson had become radicalized on the Internet into leftist ideology.

The Fix reviewed Donovan’s X account and could not find any subsequent statements addressing the now established facts that Robinson had a gender-confused boyfriend. She did post on Monday about the “right wing reaction” to Trayvon Martin who died 13 years ago.

Other education leaders have appeared to walk back their claims.

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten deleted her social media post claiming that a conservative shot Kirk, according to the Washington Free Beacon.

Retire Harvard law Professor Laurence Tribe apologized for sharing content that suggested the killer was conservative. However, his follow-up X post from Sunday also said there is no reason to believe the killer was a leftist.

Washington Free Beacon reporter Peter Hasson provided commentary on Monday on the evidence supporting the argument that Robinson was liberal.

“He left anti-fascist calling cards on the ammunition found at the scene. He told family members about his disdain for Kirk’s political views,” Hasson wrote. “He was living with a male romantic partner who identifies as transgender. Investigators who interviewed those close to Robinson came away with the clear impression that he ‘”‘was a person who was deeply indoctrinated with leftist ideology,'”‘ according to Utah governor Spencer Cox (R.).”