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How did Mississippi’s Congressmen vote on a resolution honoring Charlie Kirk?
By Anthony Warren
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Three Mississippi Congressmen voted in favor of a resolution honoring Charlie Kirk on Friday, with the lone holdout being Rep. Bennie Thompson.
Hours ago, the U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 719, a resolution “honoring the life and legacy” of the slain conservative activist.
Kirk was killed earlier this month at a Turning Point USA rally at Utah Valley State University.
The resolution was introduced on September 16 and was co-sponsored by all three of Mississippi’s Republican Congressmen: Michael Guest, Mike Ezell, and Trent Kelly.
All three went on to vote in favor of the resolution, according to the Associated Press, while Thompson was one of dozens of Democrats who did not.
Thompson explained his decision in a post on social media.
“I condemn - unequivocally and in the strongest terms - the violent murder of Charlie Kirk. I am praying for his family and for our nation as we navigate the aftermath of last week’s horrific shooting,” he said. “No one should be killed for what they say or what they believe.”
Thompson said Kirk should not be “elevated as a role model for the American public” and called his rhetoric “divisive, disparaging, and too often rooted in grievance.”
“The beliefs he evangelized normalized fringe views on race, sex, and immigration. Unfortunately, his rhetoric resurrected dangerous prejudices of a dark past.”
According to a copy of the 636-page resolution found on Congress’s website, Kirk is described as a “fierce defender of the American founding and its timeless principles of life, liberty, limited government, and individual responsibility.”
It also goes on to say that Kirk “personified the values of the First Amendment, exercising his God-given right to speak freely, challenge prevailing narratives, and did so with honor, courage, and respect for his fellow Americans.”
USA Today reports that the measure was approved on a 310-58 vote, with all Republicans and 95 Democrats voting in favor. Another 58 House Democrats voted against the resolution, and another 38 voted present.
Earlier, the Senate voted unanimously on a resolution designating October 14, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk.
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith shared the following statement on her social media account:
“Charlie Kirk stood for free speech, faith, and active participation in shaping our country’s future – values that lie at the heart of our nation. I’m proud to honor his legacy with a National Day of Remembrance, ensuring his dedication to liberty lives on and inspires the next generation to carry that mission forward.”