by John Cylc

September 19, 2025

The conservative movement in America is experiencing a profound shift. The horrendous assassination of Charlie Kirk has acted as a catalyst, awakening in many Republicans and conservatives, a renewed sense of purpose. While I was not alive during the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy or Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I imagine the atmosphere today is very similar to those moments—grief, outrage, and determination. As painful as it is, tragedy sometimes calls people to action. For conservatives, this moment has become a “turning point”.

For decades, conservatives have been the targets of escalating hostility. Since the early 2000s—particularly during and after President George W. Bush’s administration—liberal activists, media figures, and left-wing organizations have launched increasingly aggressive campaigns to silence and mock conservative voices. The methods have varied: protests, riots, cancel campaigns, character assassinations, and relentless smears. Conservatives condemned the violence but rarely confronted the underlying causes. That restraint is over.

At the root of this conflict lies the weaponization of misinformation. National news outlets and social media platforms have relentlessly promoted narratives that portray conservatives as dangerous, hateful, or racist—often ignoring or dismissing evidence to the contrary. When facts surface that refute their claims, the response from mainstream media is a doubling down. For years, many on the right tolerated this, hoping truth would be recognized by the viewers. The assassination of Charlie Kirk has changed that calculation. Conservatives are no longer willing to quietly absorb the blows passively.

This does not mean conservatives are turning to violence. On the contrary, the movement is standing up to counter falsehoods, confront hypocrisy, and demand accountability. From elected leaders to the common man, conservatives are beginning to push back in ways that cannot be ignored.

To understand this crusade, one must look at how misinformation has shaped some of the most polarizing events of recent years.

Look at what happened with the George Floyd incident in 2020. The media narrative was that Floyd’s death was the product of systemic racism, proof that all police were suspect, and justification for dismantling traditional law enforcement. From this narrative grew bad experiments like “cashless bail,” which has put repeat offenders back on the streets within hours of committing serious crimes. The riots that followed—looting, arson, beatings, and even murders—were excused by the press as “justified expressions of rage.” Those who dared call it the opportunistic criminality that it was, were smeared as racists. Many conservatives, fearful of that label, stayed silent.

Another example is January 6, 2021. Americans were told it was an “insurrection” orchestrated by Donald Trump himself, that police officers were murdered, and that the Capitol barely survived a violent overthrow. A congressional committee selectively presented evidence, sequestered video footage, barred dissenting witnesses, and destroyed documents that contradicted its conclusions. Only later, through a handful of conservative media and independent journalists, did the fuller picture emerge: Trump had explicitly called for peaceful protest; security preparations were undermined not by Trump but by Nancy Pelosi; and the only person killed that day was Ashli Babbitt, an unarmed, white female protester who was shot by a black police officer who had a history of weapons violations. While some rioters did engage in criminal behavior, most others were not. Many were filmed calmly walking through the building with the permission, and even cooperation, of security officers.

The point is not to excuse some minor wrongdoing, but to highlight how one-sided and misleading narratives have been presented. These narratives divide Americans, excuse violence when convenient, and demonize conservatives.

The hypocrisy surrounding free expression has only deepened the divide. When comedian Jimmy Kimmel falsely labeled Charlie Kirk’s killer as a “MAGA” supporter, outrage followed. Citizens flooded ABC, Disney, and AT&T with demands for accountability. Kimmel’s suspension—likely permanent—was not an attack on free speech, but a consequence of peddling blatant lies to support the Democrat viewpoint..

Predictably, the media framed it as an “assault on the First Amendment.” Yet these same voices were silent when ABC canceled Roseanne Barr for a single tweet, when Disney fired Gina Carano for questioning the COVID vaccine, when Tucker Carlson was ousted from Fox News, or when President Trump was banned from multiple social media platforms for disputing election results. Free speech, in their view, is absolute only when it shields left-leaning figures. When conservatives are silenced, it is justified; when progressives face consequences, it is censorship.

This double standard has not gone unnoticed.

What we are witnessing now is not a turn to extremism, but a breaking of silence. Conservatives who once hesitated to speak out and stayed on the sidelines are finding their voices. The outrage is not rooted in hatred but in recognition that the stakes are far greater than minor political disputes. This is not simply about taxes, regulations, or party platforms. It is about truth versus propaganda, freedom versus coercion, good versus evil.

This awakening is not a call to violence but a call to vigilance. Conservatives are learning that defending values requires more than mere quiet disapproval. It requires courage (THE major virtue promoted by Charlie Kirk)—courage to expose lies, courage to challenge political narratives, and courage to prepare for the consequences of standing up to the mainstream.

We are not seeking revenge, but we are ready to defend ourselves—intellectually, politically, and if necessary, legally. We are not driven by hatred, but by love of truth and conviction that America deserves better than manipulation and deceit.

Charlie Kirk’s assassination has become a defining moment in this struggle. His life’s work   has inspired countless young conservatives to stand unapologetically for their beliefs. His death has awakened even more. Where once many conservatives tolerated the smears, accepted the silencing, or retreated in private frustration, they now understand that silence is not only no longer an option, it is tantamount to surrendering our country to the propagandists of the left.

The conservative movement stands at a crossroads, but it is not paralyzed. It is mobilized increasingly. From grassroots activists to national leaders, from parents at school board meetings to commentators challenging corporate media, conservatives are speaking with one voice: enough is enough!

The coming years will determine whether America can reclaim honest debate, restore accountability, and rebuild trust in its institutions. But one thing is certain: conservatives are no longer willing to sit on the sidelines. They are standing up—not with violence, not with hate, but with truth, courage, and resolve.

Charlie would approve.