Hollywood actor Sean Penn has mourned the loss of conservative dynamo Charlie Kirk, saying we need people like him to inspire vigorous debate while respecting opposing viewpoints.
In an interview with the New York Times the One Battle After Another star said he disagreed with “almost everything” Kirk believed in but still held firm to the democratic belief that “we need” people like Kirk to promote frank, open discussion on social issues. He observed:
We need that debate. We’ve gotta fight it out and find a compromise. [Acts of political violence] do come into fashion, and the way we kill the fashion of it is people of conscience on both sides recognizing that if somebody really believes something, that’s your friend.
The 65-year-old added mutual respect and understand for opposing views is essential to living in a free society and people need to start recognizing differing viewpoints as “valid opinions.”
“I’m talking about if somebody believes that a human being starts at conception, if you can’t understand that concept, you’re just stupid,” Penn continued.
“And if you’re not willing to tolerate the concept as a concept that’s held as deeply as I may have a belief that, I don’t know, let the woman decide. All of these are valid opinions.”
Conservative influencer and co-founder of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University on September 10, as Breitbart News reported.
Police have since charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson in connection with the murder.
Penn’s new movie One Battle After Another is released in theaters September 26.
