Georgetown University won’t say how it plans to protect free speech and open debate after several flyers celebrating the assassination of Charlie Kirk were found on campus, The Federalist has learned.
Last week, The Charlie Kirk Show executive producer Andrew Kolvet posted a photograph of what appeared to be a flyer on a bulletin board at the Washington, D.C.-area university. The sign reads, “Hey, Fascist! Catch! The only political group that celebrates when Nazis die” — a reference to the language engraved on one of the bullet casings that Kirk’s alleged killer was planning to use in his assassination of the conservative speaker.
As The Federalist previously reported, the poster also included a QR code, which takes users to a webpage with a note that reads, “We’re building a community that’s done with ceremonial resistance and strongly worded letters. If you want to make a real change in your community, let us now [sic] below.”
The organization whose name appeared on the flyers — which were found at multiple locations across campus — is the John Brown Club, a radical left-wing group with reported ties to left-wing violence and extremist organizations like Antifa. The club does not appear on the list of student clubs recognized by Georgetown.
While Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Georgetown have confirmed the flyers’ removal from school grounds and that campus police are investigating the incident, the college has stopped short of offering specific details on how it plans to protect free speech on campus — especially individuals with mainstream conservative views similar to Kirk’s.
In a Sept. 25 press release condemning the flyers and their incitement of violence against conservatives, Vice President for Public Safety Josh Bornstein acknowledged the threatening flyers “have been distressing to members of our community.” He offered links to the school’s “Every Hoya Cares website” and campus police’s “Campus Services page” that provide “[i]nformation about well-being resources” and “information on safety resources,” respectively.
The Federalist reached out to Georgetown University to further inquire about what actions the university is taking in response to Kirk’s assassination and the flyers incident but did not receive a response by the deadline.
The Federalist specifically requested to know what emails, newsletters, public events, vigils, or additional resources Georgetown has issued (if any) to help its students deal with the trauma of the assassination of Charlie Kirk on a college campus during a free speech event; what specific action(s) has Georgetown taken (if any) to ensure free speech and debate will be protected at the university; and what specific resources Georgetown is prepared to use to ensure the violent threats coming from the John Brown Club will not impede the safety of its students — particularly those who hold conservative views.
It’s worth mentioning that Georgetown has gone above and beyond to accommodate leftists at the university. As The Federalist previously noted, the school began providing numerous resources catering to left-wing race politics following the 2020 death of George Floyd, including an “Anti-Racism Toolkit,” and members of Georgetown’s Campus Ministry led a demonstration against “systemic racism.”
Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. He previously served as a state content writer for Convention of States Action and his work has been featured in numerous outlets, including RealClearPolitics, RealClearHealth, and Conservative Review. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood
