After Charlie Kirk assassination, UNL professor says college should be place for open debate

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Political activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination Wednesday came amid a wave of politically motivated violence this year, which some blame on a spike in polarization.

“Increasingly, we seem to be retreating into different tribes,” said Kevin Smith, a political science professor at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. “And you know, when we’re in our tribes, we believe we are right and that anyone who disagrees with us is not just wrong — it’s not just a policy disagreement — but we view people on the other side as somehow morally wrong.”

With over 30 years of experience analyzing American politics, Smith teaches his students how to navigate the world of policy with respect for each other.

SEE ALSO: Nebraska political leaders condemn killing of Charlie Kirk

Despite differences in opinion, he said it’s important to express our political beliefs and take part in political engagement.

That’s exactly what Kirk was doing when shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

It was supposed to be the first stop of his “American Comeback” tour organized by his nonprofit Turning Point USA.

He planned to tour colleges across the U.S. to host debates, speeches and Q&A sessions promoting his conservative values.

SEE ALSO: Conservative activist Charlie Kirk assassinated at Utah college

“Charlie Kirk might be a provocative figure but he’s also someone who showed up on a lot of college campuses and been willing to take on anybody in a debate,” Smith said. “And this is kind of one of the things we try to pride ourselves on in terms of the institution of higher education. These are places where people with very different ideas should be able to debate.”

Smith said acts of violence that result from those conversations are simply unacceptable.

“When it extends to act of violence, that’s not an act of constructive political engagement,” he said. “It’s a de-constructive act of political engagement, and it doesn’t lead to anything good.”