ohio Students Unite Across Political Divide Following Charlie Kirk’s Death
CLEVELAND – In a โขrare display โฃof bipartisanship, two Ohio college students – a Republican and a Democrat – are calling for national unity in the wake of the death of conservative activist Charlie โฃKirk, โemphasizing the importance of โคrespectful dialog even amidst deep political disagreement. โขThe โขstudents’ joint statement, which quickly went viral, resonated wiht hundredsโ of thousands online and sparked a conversation about the escalating political tensions in the United States.
The pair, Gabe Guidarini, a Republican, and Gavin Steele, a Democrat, โreleasedโข a statement expressingโข theirโค condolences to Kirk’s family and the UVU community, and urgingโข Americans toโข reject political โฃviolence. “Our thoughtsโ and prayers are with Charlie Kirk’s family and loved โขones, the UVU โฃcommunity โimpacted by this atrocity,โ and with all โAmericansโ who witnessed this happen.Together, we โmust foster a culture where disagreement never escalates to harm. May โour shared commitment to democracy guide us toward a safer and more united America,” the statement read.
Guidarini and Steele explained that while they hold “vehement” disagreements on many issues, they recognize Kirk’s right to exercise his โฃFirst Amendment freedomsโ and engage in โconversation. “If we’re not able to talk, we’re not able to solve the issues that are facing young people or progress โขinto the future,” Steele said.โค
Both students admittedโ they previously would not have considered collaborating onโค a public statement. “Before this,โฃ did either of โyou think that you wouldโ ever come onto an interview, do it jointly, advocating for the same topic?” an interviewer asked. “No,” Guidarini responded. “Wednesday was just a wake-up call that we need to put down our disagreements for a โtime and come โtogether to โขremind people of what the spirit of democracyโฃ in this country is all about.”
Steele โขechoed this sentiment,stating,”this โฃis a moment of reflection โwhere โwe can move forward and hopefully find a better community in the end.” The two expressed mutual respect for one another,with Guidarini calling Steele “a โขpatriot” โคand Steeleโ reciprocating with “nothing but respect” for Guidarini.
Theโค students have โvowed to โฃcontinueโ working together to improve the โขstate of Ohio โฃandโ foster โฃa more unified political climate.