Prevent Copycat Political Violence to Protect Free Speech in Japan

Regardless of one's views or political stance, we should all agree that violence is the greatest enemy of democracy. Despicable acts of terrorism must be eliminated from society.

Charlie Kirk, a conservative political activist close to United States President Donald Trump, was shot and killed while delivering a speech at Utah Valley University in the western state of Utah.

Kirk had emerged as a leading voice among young conservatives and is credited with helping Trump win the 2024 presidential election. He had just appeared in Tokyo for an event sponsored by the Sanseito party on September 7.

Kirk was killed by a rifle shot fired from a considerable distance that struck him in the vicinity of his neck. The crime is believed to have been committed by an individual familiar with firearms and relatively advanced shooting skills.

Hopefully, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other investigative authorities will quickly uncover the full truth about this heinous act of terrorism.

Responsibility to Calm the Environment

President Trump quickly released a video statement in which he made several provocative remarks, including:

"Radical left political violence has hurt too many innocent people and taken too many lives." And, "For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world's worst mass murderers and criminals."

However, Trump issued his statement even before the background of the crime was known.

*US Secret Service agents protect former President Donald Trump after shots ran out at a presidential campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. (©Getty Images via Kyodo)*

Trump himself was the target of a sniper attack while speaking at a presidential election rally in July 2024. It is therefore natural for him to feel angry about terrorism. However, before lashing out at his political adversaries, he should have first tried to calm the volatile environment and ensure the safety of political activities.

Protecting Political Diversity and Free Speech

In a letter to the Secretary of Homeland Security, Trump reportedly ordered the termination of Secret Service security protection for former Vice President Kamala Harris, effective September 1. The former US vice president was his opponent in the 2024 presidential election.

That led Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to charge, "This is another act of revenge following a long list of political retaliation" actions.

It is a sitting president's responsibility to ensure the safety of his political opponents. If it is true that Trump directed the termination of security for Harris, he should retract that order.

Sadly, terrorism breeds more terror in a chain reaction. New crimes must be prevented before they occur.

*PM Fumio Kishida spoke in support of a candidate in the Lower House Wakayama 1st District by-election after the incident. (©Sankei by Yuta Yasumoto)*

*Former Prime Minister Abe, during a street speech in front of Kintetsu Yamato-Saidaiji Station, Nara City, moments before he was shot on July 8, 2022. (©Sankei)*

Preventing Political Terrorism at Home

The same thing holds true here in Japan. Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot and killed by a terrorist while giving a street corner speech during the 2022 Upper House election. That memory is still fresh.

It was followed by another terrorist incident during a 2005 House of Representatives by-election. In that case, a pipe bomb was thrown at then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as he was making a campaign speech.

Very soon, the Liberal Democratic Party will hold its leadership election. Security authorities must also reflect deeply on these incidents and implement a comprehensive system to protect candidates.