Following the assassination of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk on Wednesday, two Island residents stood outside the newly opened Boch Park in Vineyard Haven on Thursday to bring awareness to what they say is escalating and dangerous rhetoric.
“I think [Charlie Kirk] was taken unjustly, and the world’s mourning,” said Theresa Delaney, who held a sign that read “Charlie Kirk RIP.” “We just wanted to be a part of making people feel that this is a huge problem. There’s so much evil and bad things happening in this world. It’s a good day to come out and show that we care.”
Delaney moved to the Island recently, and is retired. She was there with one other person, her friend John LaBell, a born-and-raised Islander who is also retired.
Both were there also paying their respects to those who died in the attacks in New York on 9/11, 24 years ago. LaBell gripped an American flag in his right hand and a sign in his left, which read “9/11/01.”
“I haven’t really followed Charlie until the past several months,” LaBell said, as car horns frequently blared in support. “I really respected the way he talked to people without being insulting. I thought he was a really good, moral person … He wasn’t a threat to anybody. I don’t understand the violence these days. I don’t get it. I’d like it to stop yesterday. And I just worry for our country.”
LaBell and Delaney’s remarks were echoed throughout the nation in the days since the brutal assassination on a college campus in Utah; political violence in the country has reached an appalling peak.
From about 3 to 5 pm on Thursday afternoon, the pair waved their signs to locals who passed by, and spoke in an interview with The Times about political violence and honoring those who died on 9/11. LaBell said he remembered exactly where he was when the two towers were struck. They both expressed their belief in the First Amendment and their right to speak freely about issues they see escalating across the country, without fear of a violent response.
“It’s not really [about] politics, it’s just the freedom that we have in our country to speak our mind nicely and respect other people, and it’s about the rule of law. We want a safe country,” LaBell said.
Delaney said she trusts President Donald Trump’s judgment and policies, and believes that Kirk was simply trying to be on his side, and he was punished for it. “He was speaking his mind, and he had the right to,” she added.
The political violence in America has seen a sharp increase, with Kirk just the latest. Two Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota and their spouses were targeted in June by a shooter who was later apprehended, with House of Representatives Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark succumbing to their injuries; the house of the Pennsylvania governor was firebombed; there were shootings at Kamala Harris’ campaign office in Arizona; and two assassination attempts on President Donald Trump happened within the past year.
School shootings have traumatized communities across the country as well. There have been more than 400 school shootings since Columbine in 1999, according to an analysis by the Washington Post. Just days ago, there was a shooting at a high school in Denver, Colo, and a few days before that at a Catholic school in Minneapolis. And yesterday, videos circulated on social media of an armed individual who wandered around Boston college campuses, with students exiting buildings with their hands raised to police who waited outside the doors.
Even more locally, the Cape and Islands District Attorney reported today that a teenager was arrested in Falmouth for making threats about shooting other students in a school.
Delaney and LaBell said the escalation of violence is exactly what they hope will resolve. They stressed the importance of the U.S. Constitution, and said people have a right to defend themselves, but that aggression toward politicians is not the way to a peaceful resolution.
“I don’t think they should take guns away from people. We’ve always had guns in America. We always will have guns, and we should have them … I’m not trying to control gun laws, I’m trying to control gun violence,” Delaney said. “I feel like there’s a war going on with our people. We all need to come together and try to display peace.”
Toward the end of their demonstration, after this reporter had left, witnesses said photographs circulated online of another man arriving at Boch Park on Thursday. He held a makeshift cardboard sign that read “White Lives Matter.” It was unclear whether he knew LaBell and Delaney.
Charlie Kirk brought a message to college students that it’s ok to say you’re Christian, it’s ok to love America
Most importantly he told them that there is more than one side to every story and you have a duty to listen to both sides and make up your own mind
First they sent Antifa, and that didn’t stop him.
Then they demonized him and that only made him stronger
So they had to kill him
All the people who called the people you disagree with Nazis and facists and deplorable, you caused this at least in part
Good on them, this is the way to respond; with peace. No looting, no rioting, no burning buildings or cars.
I find it ironic that the same Democrats and left media that have said literally the most horrible, insulting, and incendiary things about normal, peace-loving, law-abiding Americans who simply disagree with them — racists, sexists, bigots, fascists, Nazis — while knowing that it’s completely false, now hold the position that the WORDS you say can justify your murder.
On April 5 th 2023 a rather influential person said this about gun rights in this country; —–“I think it’s worth it. I think it’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights.” — I disagree with that statement… I disagreed then, and I disagree now…
And many disagree with you. Doesn’t make them monsters.
Of course people disagree with me — I get it — some people think it’s ok for people to die by the gun– a few thousand murders every year– no problem, I guess. And I agree— It doesn’t make them “monsters” . Did I say that ? Did anyone else here say that ? But I think thousands of people being murdered with guns every year is a problem. Especially when it comes to mass shootings in schools. As long as we have lax gun laws in this country, we will continue to have horrific mass shootings in schools. I understand– some people think that’s ok l– I don’t . Do you consider me a “monster” for that opinion ?
Don,
We don’t have “lax gun laws in this country.” We have lax enforcement of the laws we have. The deadliest cities (as defined by the most gunshot wounds and homicides) are in democrat controlled (blue) cities with the most stringent gun laws written in the books but not enforced on the streets. If we can agree (and I don’t know if you do) that our efforts should be organized around preventing as many gun shot wounds and homicides as the goal, the first question that needs to asked is ‘who is killing whom and where.” Answer that and concentrate our efforts there, and the death toll will plummet. And isn’t that the goal?
????
Shameful the number of online comments you can read in social media from Island residence who show no remorse and or happy a young man was killed in the Prime of his life. We all know this island is mostly made up of far left liberal people, but did not think they had no compassion for a young mother and young kids now without a father.
Charlie Kirk was a rabble rouser.
Strong defender of 2A.
The cause of his death.
Guns are so easy to get.
In this age of hatred from the Left these two are true patriots and heroes. We live in a very intolerant community. Good for them !
Charlie Kirk’s extensive record of public statements clearly expresses the views of a hatemongering, homophobic, xenophobic, misogynistic bigot. It should not be difficult to understand that acknowledging this objective fact is not the same thing as celebrating or gloating over his death or supporting political violence.
Do you have any examples of these public statements?
For someone who seems to idolize the man, you don’t seem to know much about his views on the issues. Take a few minutes to read up on them please.. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/us/charlie-kirk-views-guns-gender-climate.html I realize this is a “failing new York times” article and you need a subscription to read it. No self respecting hatemongering, homophobic, xenophobic, misogynistic bigot would actually pay money to read their lies, so here is a different source for them, as well as for people who just don’t feel like paying money to read a newspaper, except this one , of course,,, . https://www.huffpost.com/entry/charlie-kirk-quotes-beliefs_n_68c448c1e4b0b3dca95e9cd0 It’s interesting that the Huff post article doesn’t mention his xenophobic comments, but we don’t really need to see any quotes about that, do we ?
Seriously, the NY Times and Huffington Post? Spare me. Just curious, why is their no one on the Left who will openly have a debate about their ideology? Who is your Charlie Kirk? No need to answer, you don’t have one because it’s a failed ideology that could never win a peaceful debate.
You asked about his views. I provided direct quotes from the man himself. My sources are not opinion pieces. Deny it all you want but please don’t ask questions you refuse to believe the answers to. Kirk did not deserve to be murdered but it doesn’t change the fact that he was all the things Mintz said he was.
If it bleeds online, it leads….even if it’s fake. Bias in print is like a funhouse mirror—everything is distorted, but people still clap, knowing truth has become optional; clicks are mandatory!
John, when you look at the source of who is saying what, we see it for what it is. There exist people who look to the UN and Doctors Without Morals as legitimite and trust worthy, and they do it with a straight face. I’ve had 2 comments censored already in this thread. Free speech depends of who is controlling it.
Do your own research…. You will find plenty of examples!
Your comments are a great example of closed minded dismissiveness.
If someone has different views and you don’t have a solid rebuttal just say they are hate mongers homophobic and the rest.
This allows you to virtue signal and not have to actually justify your opinions as valid
I was a lifelong democrat until recently
The same people who wouldn’t applaud a 12 year old cancer kid are the people who want my vote.
Sorry not happening
And the people who want your vote now are the same people who ignored Melissa Hortman’s murder. No flags at half staff. No calls for her to lay in state. No asking for prayers in Congress. The “leader” of those people who want your vote couldn’t even be bothered to go to her funeral.
Neither of them deserved to die but Kirk died by what he preached, Melissa Hartman was murdered for what she believed to be good for her constituents, both sides of the isle. I’m pretty sure I know the answer to this, but honestly, whose death is more tragic?
Thank you, Mr. Mintz. May cool heads prevail.
I have compassion for his widow and fatherless children
I believe in the right to free speech.
I don’t support political violence of any sort.
I believe his assassin should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
I also believe many should take a moment to read some the inflammatory, hateful and racist rhetoric spoken by this man.
To those of you who “respect the way he talks to people” –
To those if you who think this man was a true patriot and hero –
Take a few moments to read more about him.
He didn’t deserve to be killed. But he aint no hero.
He is to about half of your fellow Americans. If anyone thinks they are helping their cause right now by offering opinions about what an awful guy Charlie Kirk was or that any such opinions will not be viewed as justification for his murder by most people, they are sadly mistaken. You’ve got the right to do so, but you better be able reap what you sow.
I think its a real shame when anyone is killed for their political beliefs–whether I agree with those beliefs or not. Charlie Kirk was a right wing fundamentalist christian. Good for him. His hero was Rush Limbaugh. He was reported by the NYTimes as probably being the 4th most important person to help re-elect Trump. All these things are true. As a life long Democratic-Socialist, I am on the opposite spectrum of views from Kirk and his ilk. That said, political violence and silencing those we disagree with, through murder, is never the solution. I have much compassion for Kirk’s family and friends. But I am also entitled the right to disagree with their views. What Trump and the far right are doing to this country is nothing short of fascism. Those on the Island who think otherwise are entitled to that view, but history has shown us time and time again, how tyrants take and wield power. While Kirk was a capable and intelligent debater, who challenged peoples views, the camp he was in, is giving power to demagogues, in order to preserve some Howdy Doody vision of this country which died a slow death, long ago. Amen.
It’s troubling to see statements, “…they demonized him…they had to kill him.”
One person got very angry at one other person.
There is no “they.”
Mr. Whitcomb:
“What Trump and the far right are doing to this country is nothing short of fascism.” This is a very strong conclusive statement. Just so the MV Times readers have clarity, could you define “fascism” and provide just three of the most egregious examples that illustrate that conclusion.
Fas·cism
/ˈfaSHˌiz(ə)m/
noun
1.
an authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization.
1) Banning books —https://www.commondreams.org/news/book-banning-2023
2) demanding loyalty, firing competent workers and illegally appointing henchmen to prosecute the authoritarian’s enemies https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/07/trump-threatened-to-prosecute-adversaries-citizens-what-to-know/76109262007/
3) disregarding established law —https://reason.com/2025/05/28/a-federal-judge-lists-8-ways-that-trump-violated-the-constitution-by-punishing-a-disfavored-law-firm/
How about “cancelling” free speech ? — Colbert, Kimmel, the Smithsonian, the Kennedy center for the arts, the CDC, the EPA, NOAA, and you know the rest… It’s the classic fascist playbook. Come on John, you’re smart enough to be able to understand this…
Question. How does one determine whose “fascist” regime to support, given the context of supposedly being against xenophobia, religious intolerance, transphobia, misogyny and homophobia? I don’t understand how the same people who support “free Palestine” a culture that does not abide by human rights for women, trans, gays, and will not tolerate non-Muslims, if fact kills them, is okay? Is the freedom to blather speech of hypocrisy somehow valuable?