NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?
SUMMARY
The assassination of Charlie Kirk is drawing reaction and concern around the world. Kirk's widow Erica spoke for the first time last night, vowing that his movement will not only continue, but grow. Meanwhile, concerns about political violence and security for political figures continue to rise. Lisa Desjardins speaks with Cynthia Miller-Idriss at American University for more.
View the transcript of the story.
News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
WARM-UP QUESTIONS
- Who was Charlie Kirk?
- What is political rhetoric? (see this definition via Cambridge Univ.)
- Why does political rhetoric sometimes lead to political violence, according to Cynthia Miller-Idriss?
- When was the level of political violence as high as it is now, according to Miller-Idriss?
- How does prevention play a role in decreasing the level of rhetoric or violence, according to Miller-Idriss?
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
What are some ways Americans can engage in civil discourse and tamp down the political rhetoric?
Media literacy: Why do you think the News Hour chose to interview an expert on extremism and polarization?
WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO
- For older students: Learn more about the assassination of Charlie Kirk (if you prefer to skip this part, start the video with the interview with jouranalist David Weigel at 2m:44s, which focuses on Kirk's work and legacy) and his work with Turning Point USA. Note: Be sure to preview. Ask students: Why do you think Charlie Kirk was so successful at influencing many young people to become more involved in conservative politics? How important was free speech to Kirk? What was the relationship between Kirk and President Donald Trump? What does David Weigel mean when he says Kirk was comfortable in his conservatism?
- Judy Woodruff's America at a Crossroads series examines growing polarization in the United States. Choose one of the lessons from the series to watch and answer the questions in your notebook or discuss with a neighbor. Or respond to the following question: How does the story demonstrate efforts towards civil dialogue?
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