GEORGIA (WRBL) — After the House overwhelmingly passed a resolution honoring conservative activist and influencer Charlie Kirk on Friday, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop Jr. issued a statement following the approval.
The resolution, which praised "the life and legacy" of Kirk, passed the Republican-controlled House with 310 votes in favor, while 95 Democrats supported the resolution, 58 voted against it and 38 voted "present," effectively abstaining, according to AP News.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: House approves resolution honoring Charlie Kirk with dozens of Democrats opposed
On Friday, Bishop's statement read:
"Last week, Charlie Kirk was gunned down in an apparent act of political violence. As I publicly stated on the day of this tragedy, political violence against any individual or group is unacceptable and incompatible with our country's laws, values, and ideals. My sincere prayers and condolences go out to his family.
"If this resolution were to simply condemn Charlie Kirk's murder, it would have had my vote. Unfortunately, it was an attempt to use this tragedy as an opportunity to lionize his beliefs. While he was entitled to have and express his beliefs freely, some of them are offensive to me and to the many people targeted by his invective and vitriol. They do not reflect the highest and noblest values of America, nor my Judeo-Christian faith, and I cannot condone them.
"Though I unequivocably condemn political violence and Charlie Kirk's heinous assassination, I could not support this resolution."
The resolution had kicked off an intense internal debate among Democrats.
While party leadership ultimately backed it, they did not push members to vote a certain way, as some lawmakers saw it as a political trap designed to force them into endorsing Kirk's views, according to AP News.
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