Charlie Kirk would not stop smiling as shrieking liberal protestors crashed his weekend brunch.
The CEO of conservative student organization Turning Point USA was “a soft-fascist,” they shouted. He was a “racist,” they screamed, and apparently, at just 24-years old, already a member of “the bourgeoise.” One shrieker even threw a drink on Kirk before police were called to disperse the little mob.
As far as brunch goes, it couldn’t have gone better.
To be clear: ANTIFA, an all-white fascist organization, just grew violent and attacked an all-black and Hispanic police force.
Because I, a BLACK woman, was eating breakfast.
Is this the civil rights era all over again? pic.twitter.com/piJfnopniW
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) August 6, 2018
Charlie Kirk and I just got ATTACKED and protested by ANTIFA for eating breakfast. They are currently following us through Philly. ALL BLACK AND HISPANIC police force protecting us as they scream “f*ck the racist police”. pic.twitter.com/x5WUNr9mM6
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) August 6, 2018
Along with TPUSA Communications Director Candace Owens, Kirk denied his protestors the satisfaction of getting under his skin. They didn’t mope, complain, or stoop to the level of their harassers. Good for them. With a couple video tweets and the same smile, Kirk actually used the energy of his tormentors to boost his own cause and his own celebrity.
[Also read: Twitter apologizes to Candace Owens after briefly locking her account]
Outside of college campuses and the Democratic congressional leadership, this kind of mob behavior is still frowned upon. Disagree with Kirk (I do all the time). But don’t disrupt their meal and don’t dump water over his head. It’s a violation of basic human decency and, ironically, it’s easy martyrdom.
Those protestors weren’t just harassing the fast-talking young politico. They were baptizing him in the eyes of the right because the best way to catapult a public figure into prominence is to protest them. Ben Shapiro of the Daily Wire, Charles Murray of AEI, and before his fall from grace, Milo Yiannopoulos then of Breitbart, all got it made the moment leftist mobs came after them. Now Kirk will get similar treatment.
Too many on the right won’t stop to examine Kirk’s arguments or standard practices. They will instinctively rush to his defense instead. These protests don’t hurt Kirk. They help by giving him a ready-made viral moment to bolster himself in light of their bad behavior. And that’s why Kirk was smart to smile.
