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Monday night, a major campaign to publicly identify, intimidate, and harass individuals viewed as not sufficiently mourning the death of rightwing commentator Charlie Kirk received backing by the US Vice-President.

While guest-hosting on the late commentator’s show, Vance declared that those who witness anyone applauding Charlie’s assassination” should “call them out”. Vance went on to say: “Hell, call their boss. We are opposed in political violence, but we do believe in respect, and there is no civility in the celebration of political assassination.”

Over recent days, numerous workers across various industries—including college staff to an airline pilot—have been fired over their remarks regarding the commentator’s killing.

A nameless online platform that began gathering reports of critical rhetoric stated it had received over sixty-three thousand reports. Originally named “Expose Charlie’s Murderers”, the platform changed its name on Monday to the “Charlie Kirk Data Foundation”.

Allies of former President Trump have sought to link Kirk’s killing—absent proof—to what they describe as a coordinated progressive “extremist” movement that supports targeted attacks. These claims have raised fears of a severe crackdown on free speech.

On the show, the Vice-President announced that the government would “work to dismantle the organizations that promote violence and extremism in our own country”.

Accompanying Vance on the program was Stephen Miller, who also vowed to take action on what he referred to as a “widespread domestic terrorist operation” he blamed for the killing.

“I solemnly swear,” he stated, “we are going to use all available tools at the Department of Justice, DHS, and throughout this government to locate, disrupt, dismantle, and destroy these groups.”

Ideological affiliations of the shooter are not yet known, and the US has witnessed a wave of attacks in recent years that has affected both Democrats and conservatives.

Nevertheless, the dragnet has also ensnared those who voiced disapproval of the deceased commentator, a Christian nationalist with a history of sexist and bigoted speeches. A number have only quoted the commentator’s statements or been targeted for not adequately mourning his death.

One target was military officer a service member, who shared Kirk on the day of his killing. Among the quotes were Kirk referring to the landmark legislation as a “beast” that “has now turned into an anti-white weapon”, and his claim that some gun deaths are the cost of the right to bear arms.

GOP-led states such as Florida, Oklahoma, and Texas have launched investigations into teachers alleged of making inappropriate comments after last week’s killing. Meanwhile, the Armed Forces has invited members of the public to identify those who “applaud or ridicule” the death, and stated that several service members have already been removed for their statements.

Appeals for a crackdown by the Vice-President and other Trump allies have evoked recollections of some of the darkest chapters in American history.

“The government involvement in this brings it closer to resembling McCarthyism,” said a free speech advocate of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, referring to the historical effort to root out communists that led to unfounded accusations and ruined careers. “It was not a proud moment for open discourse.”

Liberal figures have themselves been targets of political violence in recent times, including the June assassination of a Minnesota elected official and her husband, and the assault of former House speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband in their California home.