Newsday, one of the nation’s largest newspapers, was forced to apologize for publishing a cartoon about Charlie Kirk that was labeled vile and insensitive.
The cartoon showed the aftermath of last week’s assassination of the civil rights leader – a blood splattered tent – along with an empty chair and the words “Prove me wrong.”
The grossly offensive cartoon was created by Chip Bok – a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.
The Republican Party in Suffolk County, New York said the newspaper mocked tragedy, stoked division and poured gasoline on the flames of political violence.
Newsday issued an apology and said they regret that it was published.
“On Saturday, Newsday published a syndicated editorial cartoon referring to the assassination of Charlie Kirk that was insensitive and offensive. We deeply regret the mistake and sincerely apologize to the family of Charlie Kirk and to all,” Newsday said in a statement.
“We made an error in judgement. The cartoon has been removed from our digital platforms. In his illustration, Chip Bok used the name of Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA, and the theme of his Utah event — ‘Prove Me Wrong’ — to suggest that Kirk’s assassination might be a turning point for healing our nation’s divide,” the statement continued. “The imagery was inappropriate and should have never been published in Newsday.”
But Republicans are furious and are calling for a boycott of Newsday.
“By publishing a vile cartoon about the political assassination of Charlie Kirk, the paper has mocked tragedy, stoked division, and poured gasoline on the flames of political violence. This isn’t journalism. It’s a reckless, partisan attack that blames the victim, silences free speech, and shames everything this country should stand for,” Suffolk County Republican Party chairman Jesse Garcia said in a statement.
Nassau County Republicans urged people not to support a publication that normalizes hate and endangers lives. County executive Bruce Blakeman called the cartoon “unconscionable” and urged residents to cancel their subscriptions.
“The unconscionable cartoon in Newsday trivializing the assassination of Charlie Kirk is so over the top despicable that it is shocking even for the majority of us who realized long ago that Newsday abandoned any pretension of fairness. Cancel Newsday,” Blakeman posted on X.
The good and decent citizens of Long Island should cancel their subscriptions and then target any local business that advertises with Newsday. We need to send a message that there is no place for assassination culture in the United States of America.
Syndicated with permission from ToddStarnes.com – founded by best-selling author and journalist Todd Starnes. Starnes is the recipient of an RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award and the Associated Press Mark Twain Award for Storytelling.