00:00The school's choice of commencement speaker is drawing growing criticism.
00:04Utah Valley University announcing that author and educator Sharon McMahon would deliver the keynote address.
00:11Now, since then, backlash has intensified because of McMahon's past comments following the on-campus assassination of Charlie Kirk.
00:19McMahon wrote on Instagram threads saying, quote,
00:22Too many Americans, especially if you are black, LGBTQ, or Muslim, Charlie Kirk was not a person who simply engaged
00:30in good-faith debates on college campuses.
00:33It's important to remember that the incredible tragedy of a public assassination does not erase the harm many experienced from
00:40his words and the ensuing actions his followers took.
00:46The commencement ceremony is set for April 29th.
00:51And joining me now, National Security Analyst and former U.S. Secret Service Emergency Response Team member, Barry Donatio.
00:58Barry, what's your reaction to the Utah Valley University, the same place where Charlie Kirk lost his life?
01:04What do you think about their choice to bring in this commencement speaker?
01:09Thanks for having me, Ike.
01:11Poor choice, if you ask me.
01:13It's just going to incite a problem.
01:15I wouldn't have done it if I were in charge there.
01:17And why rub a sore wound?
01:20I just don't understand the purpose of doing that.
01:23So I think they're going to have issues, as you would expect.
01:26And I would say not to do that at all.
01:31Yeah, it's really insensitive.
01:33And I was caught by the phrase, you know, words are harmful.
01:38Now, I know people can get their feelings hurt.
01:40But whatever happened to sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.
01:44This idea that words are somehow, you know, can harm you in an irreparable way, I think is ridiculous.
01:53Now, Erica Kirk canceled her scheduled appearance at the University of Georgia last night.
01:57Here's what Vice President J.D. Vance had to say about it.
02:02If your instinct is to go after not the left-wing radicals who are assaulting Savannah or not the people
02:09who shot Charlie Kirk, but if your instinct is to go after a young mother because she's grieving in a
02:15way that you find wrong, well, why don't you stay in your lane and mind your own business?
02:25Yeah, to be critical of someone and how they grieve is just out of bounds, if you ask me.
02:30We're also hearing some reporting out there that these security concerns were specifically related to Erica Kirk's transportation, which is
02:38why the Vice President didn't have the same concerns.
02:43Apparently, some very direct threats is what we are hearing is reported.
02:47What are your thoughts, though, on these people being critical of Erica Kirk about these threats?
02:53You know, the poor woman has suffered enough.
02:56I think they should just keep their mouth shut, to be honest.
02:58I hate to be so bolder, but, you know, this woman has endured her husband being killed in a way
03:04on live TV.
03:05It's absolutely horrible.
03:07And instead of the empathy that she should be given, people are just ripping her apart on social media.
03:13And unfortunately, it just shows the society that we're in.
03:17And that's probably why she doesn't feel safe, by the way.
03:21People writing almost anything on social media or probably giving her death threats.
03:26Who knows?
03:27But I respect her decision.
03:29I think she should do exactly the way she feels and go on with the grieving process the way she
03:35determines she decides to do it and not somebody else.
03:39Right. Yeah, that makes perfect sense.
03:41Some of our viewers probably remember this from yesterday, the video or at least earlier in the week.
03:46What day is it?
03:47A Turning Point reporter attacked and shoved at an anti-ice demonstration over the weekend.
03:52What do you make of this uptick, Barry, in violence aimed specifically at Turning Point?
03:58Do you think something specific is going on here?
04:01Well, there's certainly a lot of anger between both parties.
04:05We really have to step it back because the only thing that this does is get normal people in trouble.
04:11These people normally wouldn't do this unless they were at this event.
04:14And it's just too charged.
04:16And people are going to work this out with words and go into the ballot box and vote your way.
04:21And I talk to people all the time about politics.
04:24If you're upset with politics, be part of the solution.
04:27Go ahead and run for office.
04:28It doesn't matter what party you are.
04:30But I recommend that they do that.
04:32That they can do that and be part of a change.
04:37Right.
04:38Yeah.
04:38Get involved.
04:39Engage.
04:40Don't sit on the couch and complain.
04:42That was actually one of the things that Vice President J.D. Vance said last night is,
04:46you know, if things are going exactly how you think they should,
04:50if one out of five is bothering you, that's not a reason to disengage.
04:55But at the same time, if you want to see things done differently, why not you?
04:59Why not now?
05:00Why not get involved?
05:01Barry, I'll give you the final 15 seconds.
05:05Well, my best wishes to Ms. Kirk.
05:07I respect her decision.
05:09I think J.D. Vance did a great job explaining what was going on.
05:13And he was very graceful.
05:14And, you know, give this poor woman a break.
05:18Let her live her life.
05:19Let her grieve the way she wants.
05:20And let's all take it just to tone down just a little bit in the politics.
05:25We could all vote.
05:27We could all run for office.
05:28We live in a wonderful country that we can do any of that.
05:31And nobody's going to hold us down.
05:34Yeah.
05:35Great words, Barry Donatio.
05:37Appreciate you being with us this afternoon.
05:40All right.
05:40Still ahead.
