Political violence in US mirrors 1960s turmoil, historian warns after Charlie Kirk shooting

Political unit and utmost rhetoric successful the United States contiguous mirrors the turbulent 1960s, but with cardinal differences that marque the existent epoch peculiarly challenging, according to statesmanlike historiographer and ABC News contributor Mark Updegrove.

"The 1960s were different clip of large upheaval and discord and division," Updegrove told ABC News connected Thursday, 1 time aft the fatal shooting of blimpish younker person Charlie Kirk astatine Utah Valley University. "In conscionable 5 years, we saw the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X, and successful 1968 alone, the back-to-back assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy."

As FBI agents recovered what they believed to beryllium the execution weapon-a high-powered bolt enactment rifle-from a wooded country adjacent the shooting tract and continued their manhunt for the suspect, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox labeled Kirk's decease a "political assassination."

The "assassination" led Updegrove to item a favoritism betwixt today's governmental unit and that of the 1960s: The relation of societal media successful amplifying utmost views.

"Social media gives america an accidental to purvey utmost views from 1 broadside oregon the different with implicit impunity," Updegrove said. "For societal media purveyors, that enragement means engagement. It's bully for their business."

The historiographer emphasized that governmental unit has emerged from crossed the ideological spectrum.

"It's happening from each sides, not conscionable the left," helium said. "It's extremism that we request to forestall successful this country."

Reflecting connected erstwhile archetypal woman Lady Bird Johnson's words, Updegrove recalled her reflection that "the clash of ideas is the dependable of freedom." However, helium stressed that portion Americans are entitled to antithetic views, unit is ne'er the solution successful a democracy.

Kirk's decease could person lasting implications for blimpish younker movements, according to Updegrove.

"He was a person who had large charisma and large impact," helium said, noting Kirk's important power successful mobilizing young voters. "He whitethorn beryllium martyred... determination mightiness beryllium radical who emergence up and effort to capable that gap."

Reflecting connected erstwhile archetypal woman Lady Bird Johnson's words, Updegrove recalled her reflection that "the clash of ideas is the dependable of freedom." However, helium stressed that portion Americans are entitled to antithetic views, unit is ne'er the solution successful a democracy.

Kirk's decease could person lasting implications for blimpish younker movements, according to Updegrove.

"He was a person who had large charisma and large impact," helium said, noting Kirk's important power successful mobilizing young voters. "He whitethorn beryllium martyred... determination mightiness beryllium radical who emergence up and effort to capable that gap."