General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMichael Fanone
Last edited Sat Sep 13, 2025, 07:42 PM - Edit history (1)
EXCERPT OF HIS STATEMENT:
Full statement
https://open.substack.com/pub/michaelfanone/p/my-statement-to-the-american-people

LetMyPeopleVote
(170,011 posts)Bayard
(27,057 posts)
Crunchy Frog
(28,050 posts)This killing was not an act of political discourse. It was carried out by a disturbed kid heavily under the influence of toxic online culture.
Trying to pretend that this was some sort of political discourse gone awry is playing into the fascists hands IMO, who are using it to attack their political opponents (that's us).
I understand that Fanone's heart is in the right place.
BootinUp
(50,424 posts)Crunchy Frog
(28,050 posts)Crunchy Frog
(28,050 posts)BootinUp
(50,424 posts)hold to your critique, that's cool, but I am going to disagree and say he set the context more broadly about violence and the celebration of it and didn't even mention the killer.
Crunchy Frog
(28,050 posts)I've now read the entire statement and my position remains the same.
Fanone himself was a victim of violence as political discourse, but at this point I don't believe that Charlie Kirk was. My views may change as more information comes out, but at this point, that's my view.
WarGamer
(17,910 posts)About his discussion with a family member hours before the CK visit where disdain for CK and noting his "Hatefulness" and "spreading hate"?
Doesn't get clearer than that.
This has been reported in every single source. Unlike the online speculation fiction.
RandomNumbers
(18,899 posts)That said, I mostly agree that the PRIMARY cause of this kid going out and shooting someone he disliked, was "the influence of toxic online culture."
Just because someone doesn't like either political party, doesn't mean that they no statement they make is "not political". And preplanned murder of a political figure is a political statement.
sop
(16,111 posts)marble falls
(68,654 posts)... that's not the amorphous American people he's made his honest and factual statement to. The specific audience should be the 35% that humps guns. that's whom he should be, pardon the expression, aiming for.
BootinUp
(50,424 posts)calimary
(87,879 posts)Sheesh - if ANYBODY has earned the right to speak out about any of this, its Michael Fanone.
tavernier
(13,951 posts)If youre not told who to hate.
Sorry, Michael, your words are true and right.
But children learn what they are taught on the knees of mom and dad. By the time you hit six or seven or eight, its pretty well ingrained.
elleng
(140,825 posts)and we are certainly are not supposed to kill the people we disagree with
rubbersole
(10,567 posts)But god did make Ted Cruz.
Skittles
(167,567 posts)
Paladin
(31,633 posts)bluestarone
(20,339 posts)For the truth!!
malaise
(289,254 posts)Rec
RandomNumbers
(18,899 posts)(I'm sure it's already happened, actually ... but I'm guessing he's used to it.)
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20640157
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/sep/13/president-elect-to-face-disciplinary-proceedings-for-charlie-kirk-remarks-oxford-union-says
JohnnyRingo
(20,165 posts)It shouldn't take violence but stopping Kirk's mission is a positive event
BootinUp
(50,424 posts)a perspective you might not fully appreciate yet. And youll understand why your comment is not only unimportant but also unhelpful.
-replied to
It shouldn't take violence but stopping Kirk's mission is a positive event
misanthrope
(9,174 posts)Is as American as Jim Crow, Dealey Plaza, Wounded Knee, and Gettysburg. The nation was born in political violence.
We remind ourselves of our ideals to soothe our reality.
BootinUp
(50,424 posts)Than we can wallow in the negative view.
misanthrope
(9,174 posts)This isnt who we are when the reality of evidence says otherwise.
In the same way an addict cant recover until they admit they have a problem, we arent going to move beyond it until we admit the truth to ourselves. And we certainly wont defeat this addiction when we have a dealer in the White House and his cohort of manufacturers running one of our major political parties.
BootinUp
(50,424 posts)Is it your view that basically says we are lost as a democracy with the current system?
Evolve Dammit
(21,233 posts)bucolic_frolic
(52,438 posts)lose their jobs.
BootinUp
(50,424 posts)Company policies.
BlueTsunami2018
(4,628 posts)Nothing has ever been gained in this country without political violence. The owners never just give people anything without a fight.
And its going to be a hell of a fight to get rid of these fascists.
I hope people understand that.
BootinUp
(50,424 posts)BlueTsunami2018
(4,628 posts)Pinkertons and pigs didnt beat the fuck out of workers trying to organize, didnt kill them. That never happened. The ruling class welcomed unions with open arms. Bloody Sunday? Never happened. The South was like Oh yeah, Black people are totally equal. Heres your ballot fellow human being.
The English just said Yeah go ahead and break off from our rule, good luck!
Nonsense. Hardly.
I just dont think Americans are ready for what needs to happen. Too soft, too comfortable.