Dozens of protesters descended on Palmetto Bay, Florida, demanding the ouster of Democrat Councilman Steve Cody after his disgusting social media jab at assassinated conservative figure Charlie Kirk.
Breitbart reported that in a swift backlash to Cody's deleted Facebook post that twisted a sacred prayer to mock Kirk's pro-gun stance and Christian beliefs, local leaders and residents rallied against him, highlighting a troubling pattern of insensitivity while he defiantly refused to step down.
Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent voice in conservative circles, was fatally shot in the neck during a debate event at Utah Valley University in front of nearly 3,000 attendees on Wednesday, leaving behind his wife, Erika, and two young children.
Right after the tragedy, Cody took to his personal Facebook page with a post that rephrased the Lord's Prayer to deride Kirk's advocacy for Second Amendment rights, saying, “Charlie Kirk is a fitting sacrifice to our Lords: Smith and Wesson. Hallowed be their names.”
That crass remark, blending mockery of faith with commentary on gun violence, quickly drew fire for its poor timing and lack of compassion—hardly the unity one expects in the wake of such senseless loss.
Cody soon removed the post and then shuttered his entire personal Facebook account, but not before sharing a detailed apology where he admitted the error stemmed from frustration over recurring gun tragedies.
In his apology letter, Cody wrote, “Yesterday, I regrettably made a significant error in judgment by sharing a quotation on my personal Facebook page that referenced remarks made by the deceased Charlie Kirk. This action, born out of my deep anger and frustration with the now too common tragedy of gun violence, was misguided.”
He continued in the letter, “I want to state unequivocally that this post did not and does not reflect my personal values, my deeply held beliefs, or my solemn responsibilities as an elected official. To the Kirk family, my sincere condolences during this difficult time, and my apologies for any statements I made that caused you further distress.”
Captioning the apology with “I screwed up,” Cody shared it briefly on his account before it vanished, though his office later provided it to media outlets—yet this gesture felt more like damage control than genuine remorse, especially as he doubled down on defending the underlying “irony.”
By Thursday evening, protesters assembled in Palmetto Bay to urge Cody's resignation, accusing him of not just celebrating a death but ridiculing the victim's religious convictions as part of a broader habit of rude conduct.
The demonstration coincided with an event honoring the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, adding a layer of irony to the calls for accountability on a day meant for reflection and respect.
Palmetto Bay Mayor Karyn Cunningham joined the crowd and released a statement condemning Cody's response to the assassination, emphasizing that such words undermine community values of compassion and dignity in times of crisis.
Cunningham stated, “Violence has no place in our community or in our nation, and words that seek to diminish or make light of such tragedy are equally harmful. The people of Palmetto Bay deserve leadership that reflects compassion, responsibility, and dignity in moments of crisis.”
The village's official Facebook page posted photos of the protest and encouraged ongoing public input, noting, “Our Mayor and members of the Council spoke with protesters at Village Hall calling for the resignation of Councilmember Steve Cody following his inappropriate post about the assassination of Charlie Kirk, which condoned violence.”
It added an invitation for community feedback at the next council meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 5 p.m., signaling that the issue might linger unless addressed head-on— a smart move in a climate where woke overreactions often drown out measured discourse.
Speaking to CBS News on Thursday, Cody downplayed his post as “not the most well-thought-out thing I’ve ever done” and brushed off resignation demands, insisting he would serve out his term until 2028.
To NBC6, he expressed regret for the insensitivity but reiterated the “irony” angle, saying, “I will admit to you it was not well-thought-out. I regret it because it was insensitive. I do think there’s a certain bit of irony in it, but it caused a lot of pain for people I know and people that I respect, and I took it down.”
In a chat with Florida Politics, Cody again rejected stepping aside and framed his words as valid commentary on the contradiction in Kirk's past statements about gun rights, noting, “It was more of a commentary on the irony that Mr. Kirk in 2023 was saying that we have to have gun deaths as a sacrifice for the Second Amendment … and unfortunately he fell victim to gun violence.”
The Republican Party of Florida, through Chairman Evan Power, blasted Cody as exhibiting a consistent pattern of bullying, stating he has “bullied his neighbors, silenced residents, cut off council members mid-sentence, and shut down dissent at every turn.”
Power further criticized, “This wasn’t just mocking a murdered patriot. It was spitting on Charlie’s faith, ridiculing his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and sneering at a family and a movement grieving a tragedy. His words are vile and hateful.”
Describing Cody as “not as a leader, but as a bully drunk on power,” Power's words underscore how one ill-timed post can expose deeper flaws in character, reminding us that public service demands more than progressive platitudes—it requires basic human decency.
Cody, who has held his council seat since 2020, has faced multiple controversies, including a high-profile clash where he questioned Vice Mayor Mark Merwitzer's legitimacy over a swearing-in detail, leading to costly legal fees for taxpayers.
Such episodes paint a picture of a councilman more focused on technical gotchas than constructive governance, which only amplifies the current uproar over his response to Kirk's death.
Meanwhile, Kirk built his legacy through Turning Point USA, energizing young conservatives on campuses, hosting an online show, and appearing frequently in right-leaning media—efforts that made him a target but also a symbol of principled advocacy.