In the wake of the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, Colorado’s senior Republican in Congress, U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, demonstrated the kind of leadership that transcends partisanship. Rising on the House floor amid a nation reeling from yet another act of political violence, Boebert called for a simple moment of prayer — a gesture of compassion, reflection and unity in the face of senseless loss.

Boebert’s suggestion of prayer — for a man who’s mantra was “the American way of life means speaking your mind without retribution” — should have been welcomed with solemn agreement in a chamber dedicated to the people’s business. Instead, it was drowned out by shouts of “no” from Democrats, turning a moment of potential healing into a display of raw division and hatred.

This reaction is not just disappointing; it lays bare the radicalization of a party that traditionally stood for peace, justice and tolerance for alternative views. Once, Democrats championed civil discourse and empathy across ideological lines. Today, that ethos seems eroded, replaced by a reflexive hostility that rejects even the most basic acts of humanity when they come from the other side.

Boebert’s plea was not a political stunt but a call to honor a life cut short by hatred. Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was a vocal advocate for conservative principles, engaging young Americans in cordial and respectful debates about freedom and opportunity.

His death at age 31, gunned down during a campus event, should prompt introspection, not obstruction. Yet, the Democrats’ outburst suggests a deeper malaise, where empathy is conditional on political alignment.

In the aftermath of Kirk’s killing, social media erupted with disturbing responses from left-leaning users justifying and outright cheering the act. One protester in Seattle openly admitted support for the shooter, claiming Kirk was a “Nazi” and that the assassin “did us all a favor.”

Prominent voices on platforms such as X amplified claims of widespread Democratic celebration, with users decrying a “death cult” mentality that revels in the demise of ideological foes. While some Democrats condemned the violence, the undercurrent of glee from others — evident in threads filled with receipts of celebratory posts — reveals a troubling tolerance for brutality when targeted at conservatives.

We saw similar widespread celebration by leftists after a lunatic shot insurance executive Brian Thompson in the back as he peacefully walked along a New York sidewalk.

Leftists have repeatedly employed violent rhetoric against President Donald Trump, framing him as an existential threat warranting extreme measures. President Joe Biden remarked it was time to put Trump “in the bull’s-eye.”

U.S. Rep. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-California, famously urged supporters to “get more confrontational” with Republicans. Comedian Kathy Griffin posed with a mock severed head of Trump. These and other acts of incivility normalize hostility.

As buildings burned and innocent bystanders were killed during the left’s 2020 riots, the left-wing mainstream media characterized death and billions in destruction as “mostly peaceful” demonstrations.

Boebert’s simple request for prayer was intended as a bridge during a day of national despair. The Democrats’ rejection exposes a party adrift, more interested in scoring points than fostering peace. In a time when political violence surges — from Kirk’s assassination to threats against lawmakers on both sides — we must reclaim civility.

Let Boebert’s example inspire us to reject radicalism and embrace the tolerance that once defined American discourse. Freedom and peace depend on it.

The Gazette Editorial Board