Illinois Anchor Resigns After Tribute to Charlie Kirk
An anchor from a television station in Illinois stepped down on Monday following her suspension for broadcasting what she termed a “nonpartisan tribute” to Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point, after his assassination.
“My resignation stems from my core values. I can’t compromise who I am just to keep my job. I choose faith and love for this country,” she stated.
The anchor, Harmony, worked with NewsChannel 20, an ABC affiliate based in Springfield. She shared a heartfelt video addressing viewers, expressing that it’s perfectly normal to feel sadness. In the video, she became emotional, mentioning that Kirk was her first boss, noting her time at Turning Point USA from 2021 to 2022.
“There’s a lot happening in our nation right now, but I want to emphasize one thing: reach out to your neighbor, converse about your beliefs—whatever they may be,” she said in the video.
During her on-air tribute, she quoted a favorite proverb of Kirk’s: “When the conversation ends and words are lost, that’s when violence begins.” This anecdote was part of her overall homage.
It remains unclear whether her actions went against the station’s prior directives to refrain from tributes or if her remarks were unexpected.
“Many in mainstream media faced termination or repercussions for making light of his assassination. I might be the first to commemorate him on air,” Harmony remarked in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
Fox News Digital sought comments from WICS, operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group, but the station declined to provide information when contacted.
Kirk was killed last Wednesday while speaking at a campus event in Utah. His murder has ignited feelings of sorrow and anger nationwide. Interestingly, some of Kirk’s critics have shown a degree of respect following his death. Numerous instances of online posts celebrating his assassination have led to consequences for those individuals.
Legacy media have criticized the dismissals as part of a broader “cancel culture” campaign that undermines free speech. In a notable incident, former MSNBC analyst Matthew Dowd was also let go after comments he made following Kirk’s shooting. He suggested that Kirk’s “hateful words” might have incited violence but later contended he was unaware of Kirk’s assassination at the time.
