An Illinois TV anchor has stepped down from her job at a local ABC station. Beniley Harmony shared that she resigned after a suspension for delivering a heartfelt tribute to Charlie Kirk in the wake of his assassination.
Harmony announced her departure from WICS-ABC20 Springfield on Monday, claiming she faced backlash from the station after her emotional one-minute and 17-second segment aired on Friday.
“Many in the mainstream media were dismissed or punished for mocking his assassination,” she stated on X.
She mentioned, “I believe I was the first person punished for honoring him on air.”
In her message to followers, Harmony emphasized that her resignation aligns with her core values, which are too important to disregard for the sake of employment.
“I prioritize my faith and love for this country,” she added.
Wrapping up her statement, she expressed solidarity and prayers for Kirk’s family and the nation.
Harmony thanked Springfield, referring to it as her home and community, and expressed her deep respect for both Kirk and the United States.
Following her announcement, her station bio page appears to have been removed from the station’s website.
During her poignant tribute, Harmony reassured viewers that it was normal to feel “sad” or “upset” about the cold-blooded murder of the Turning Point USA founder.
Struggling with tears, she shared how Kirk was her first boss and mentor early in her media journey. He taught her to believe in herself and pursue her dreams.
“One of my favorite proverbs that Charlie always shared was, ‘When conversation stops and individuals have no words, that’s when violence begins.’ He told me this early in my career,” Harmony recalled.
“Thank you, CK; you changed my life,” she concluded her heartfelt tribute.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Harmony worked in production and administration for Turning Point USA from August 2021 to February 2022.
Kirk, a well-known conservative podcaster at the age of 31, was shot and killed last Wednesday while speaking at a university in Utah during a Turning Point USA tour.
While Harmony resigned to honor Kirk, many have faced consequences for laughing at his assassination online, including Delta pilots and MSNBC analysts.
Graphic video of Kirk’s death circulated soon after, alongside insensitive jokes targeting right-wing influencers.
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy commented on social media, noting that American Airlines pilots who celebrated the assassination were quickly grounded.
Furthermore, MSNBC analyst Matthew Dowd lost his job after making comments that seemed dismissive of Kirk’s demise.
Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee criticized a state university employee for expressing a lack of sympathy following Kirk’s assassination.
Even an Office Depot employee in Michigan was reportedly fired for refusing to print a flyer for Kirk.
