Thousands gather outside Turning Point USA headquarters to mourn Charlie Kirk
Fox News correspondent Jeff Paul reports on the memorial outside Turning Point USA headquarters in Arizona honoring founder Charlie Kirk on ‘The Story.’
An Illinois television anchor resigned Monday after being suspended for airing what she called a "non-partisan tribute" to Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk following his assassination.
"My resignation is guided by values that are essential to who I am, which I refuse to set aside in order to keep a job. I choose my faith and love of country, and always will," Beni Rae Harmony wrote on X.
Harmony was an anchor for WICS Newschannel 20, an ABC affiliate in Springfield, Illinois.
Harmony shared video of her on-air tribute to Kirk, telling viewers it was okay to feel sadness and grieve. She became emotional and noted that Kirk was her first boss. Her LinkedIn profile shows she worked at Turning Point USA from 2021 to 2022.
"There's a lot going on in our world right now, and our country, but I want to say one thing. Lean on your neighbors, speak up for what you believe in, I don't care what it is," she said in the video.
People hold candles and sing during a memorial and prayer vigil for Charlie Kirk at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Rod Lamkey Jr./AP Photo)
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"I want to share with you one of my favorite sayings that Charlie would always tell us at the office, he would yell it from the mountaintops, so please listen. 'When conversations stop happening, when individuals become wordless, that’s when violence begins,'" Harmony added in her tribute.
It's unclear if she ignored a directive by the station ahead of time not to give the tribute, or if the speech was a surprise. News Channel 20 said it has not fired or suspended anyone in the last 90 days when reached for comment by Fox News Digital.
Harmony said in her post to X, "Many in the mainstream media have been fired or punished for mocking his assassination. I believe I am the first to be targeted for honoring him on air."
Rincon Broadcasting Group said in a statement, "WICS maintains a clear distinction between news and lifestyle programming to ensure our viewers receive accurate, unbiased reporting in our newscasts, while also providing engaging and entertaining content in our lifestyle shows."
"Beni Rae Harmony was employed by WICS as a lifestyle host/producer on Marketplace, which is designed to deliver lifestyle and entertainment features, not commentary or editorials. To clarify, Ms. Harmony chose to resign. She was not suspended or terminated by the station; her departure was her decision," the statement added. "We value the trust of our audience and remain committed to upholding the standards and practices that guide our newsroom and our station. The death of Charlie Kirk is a tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and children."
Kirk was assassinated last Wednesday while speaking at a campus event in Utah.
While his killing has sparked grief and outrage across the country, some of Kirk's foes have criticized the tributes. There have also been numerous examples of figures online celebrating his death and facing firings or other reprimands as a result.
The legacy media has criticized the firings as a "cancel culture" campaign from the right targeting free speech.
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Matthew Dowd, a former MSNBC political analyst, was fired from the network over remarks he made after Kirk was shot but before it was clear the conservative activist had died.
Dowd suggested the shooting was caused by a chain reaction from his "hateful words" against various groups. He later claimed he didn't know yet that Kirk had been shot and criticized MSNBC for firing him.
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Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk arrives to speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally at Thomas & Mack Center, Oct. 24, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo)
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