On September 11, 2025, I was driving south on Interstate 77, headed to South Carolina for a family reunion. To break the monotony of the drive, I was listening to a newly published biography of the late Congressman John Lewis. The story of Lewis’ devotion to nonviolence, coupled with the violence that he suffered at the hands of white southerners on numerous occasions and particularly on the Edmund Pettis Bridge in Selma, Alabama, on March 7, 1965, Alabama, is hard to stomach. No matter how many times you hear about the hate spewed in the name of segregation, it is hard to believe that this was the state of America just 60 years ago.
When I switched my radio from the recorded book back to satellite radio, I learned of the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk. Frankly, I had no idea who Charlie Kirk was. Hearing the details of the sniper-like shooting, I bemoaned the lack of response that our governments, both state and federal, have had to gun control legislation–just as I bemoaned school shootings and other acts of random violence. The proliferation of guns in our society is one of the great failures of our democracy. In my mind, Kirk’s shooting was just another example of too many guns and the growing violence in our society
But let us not forget, Kirk said that he would rather have people die than give up his Second Amendment right to carry a gun.
No person—white, Black, conservative, liberal, Democrat, Republican, Socialist, Communist or of any persuasion—should be the victim of gun violence. The person who killed Charlie Kirk and anyone who assisted in the crime should be punished to the full extent of the law. It was a despicable act that cannot be sanctioned by any segment of society.
That being said, I would like to call your attention to the Cuyahoga County Council meeting of September 23, 2025—some 13 days after Kirk’s death. Council President Dale Miller, in calling the meeting to order, called for a moment of silence following the Pledge of Allegiance to honor Kirk and mentioned other recent victims of political violence.
Unless Miller has been living in a cave with his pet turtle, I must assume that he was aware of the controversy surrounding Kirk and the way his death should or should not be acknowledged. Jimmy Kimmel was taken off the air. People lost their jobs over commenting about Kirk’s political opinions—some for merely repeating his words. Cleveland’s Fire Chief was placed on paid leave after reposting a political cartoon critical of Kirk. Protests for and against Kirk manifested themselves around the country. The fact that there was a moment of silence at sporting events was a subject of intense debate.
So why did Miller decide that a moment of silence for Kirk was a hill he needed to die on? Why bring up the subject? Kirk had no nexus to Cleveland or Cuyahoga County Council. Miller had to have known that with the bipartisan and multi-racial makeup of the Council, there were varying views. Why rock the boat?
I support Kirk’s right to express his opinions. But I also support my right to disagree with a man who has gone out of his way to condemn and castigate Black Americans, especially Black women. According to Kirk, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, a cum laude graduate of Harvard, was a “diversity hire”. He said he was nervous every time he got on an airplane and there was a Black pilot because obviously a Black pilot would not be qualified. He made disparaging remarks about former First Lady Michelle Obama. He condemned gymnast Simone Biles when stress, described as the “twisties,” took her out of competition. He said she was “unpatriotic” and “un-American.” This is clearly a man that has issues with African Americans and particularly African American women. As a result, recognizing his right to his opinion, I also recognize the rights of others to respectfully disagree.
This is not a man that I wish to have a moment of silence for.
I commend Councilpersons Yvonne Conwell, Meredith Turner and Pernel Jones for using their feet to exercise their first amendment right to protest. They did the right thing. District 10 Councilperson Michael Houser was the only Black member of Council that stayed in the room. Voters in his district will have to decide on the merits or demerits of his decision.
Council President Dale Miller exercised extremely poor judgement in raising Kirk’s name. Next time, Council President Miller, you need to think before you speak. I hope you enjoy the taste of shoe leather, because in my book that is the only thing that you got out of raising Kirk’s name.
Councilperson Meredith Turner told me that she has already started to receive hate mail. I told her that she should hold her head up high. She did the absolute right thing to express her opinion, just like Kirk had the right to express his. The late Congressman John Lewis would commend her. Sometimes you must speak up for the right and as Congressman Lewis said, “Get in good trouble.”
C. Ellen Connally is a retired judge of the Cleveland Municipal Court. From 2010 to 2014 she served as the President of the Cuyahoga County Council. An avid reader and student of American history, she is a former member of the Board of the Ohio History Connection, and past president of the Cleveland Civil War Round Table, and is currently vice president of the Cuyahoga County Soldiers and Sailors Monument Commission. She holds degrees from BGSU, CSU and is all but dissertation for a PhD from the University of Akron.