By Hank Russell
Newsday has apologized to its readers for publishing a graphic cartoon that detractors said mocked the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
In the September 13 edition of the paper, the cartoon, illustrated by Chip Bok, showed a blood-stained wall under a tent with Kirk’s name on it and the phrase “Prove Me Wrong.” An arrow is pointing to the chair with the words “Turning Point USA,” the name of the organization Kirk co-founded. (Warning: Graphic content.)
On September 10, Kirk was speaking at a rally at Utah Valley University when he was shot and killed. Police arrested Tyler Robinson, 22, for Kirk’s murder.
In a statement from Newsday leadership that was published on social media on September 14, they apologized for publishing an “insensitive and offensive” cartoon, adding, “In his illustration, Chip Bok used the name of Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA, and the theme of his Utah event — “Prove Me Wrong” — to suggest that Kirk’s assassination might be a turning point for healing our nation’s divide. The imagery was inappropriate and should never have been published in Newsday.”
Newsday leadership also said it offered an apology to the Kirk family, calling it “a mistake.”
Newsday Editorial Page Editor Rita Ciolli said the paper “regret[s] the upset” cause by Bok’s cartoon.
On his website, Bok explained his reason for drawing the controversial cartoon. “My agenda as a cartoonist is basically free speech,” he said. “That made Charlie Kirk my kind of guy. He took on leftwing cancel culture by engaging college students where they were. His method was simple and brilliant, he promoted free speech using the Socratic method on college campuses. He would answer any question and then the student questioner had to respond. And so it went.”
According to his website, Bok is a syndicated cartoonist through Creators Syndicate. A 1997 Pu;itzer Prize finalist, he has had his cartoons appear in The Times of London, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, New York Times and the Los Angeles Times, among others.
Those who saw the cartoon expressed their outrage at Newsday. Suffolk GOP Chairman Jese Garcia said the paper “crossed the line” and called the cartoon “vile.”
“By publishing a vile cartoon about the political assassination of Charlie Kirk, the paper has mocked tragedy, stoked division, and poured gasoline on the flames of political violence,” Garcia said. “This isn’t journalism. It’s a reckless, partisan attack that blames the victim, silences free speech, and shames everything this country should stand for.”
Garcia called for the media outlet to issue a public apology to its readers — which was published — the Kirk family and “every American who still believes in freedom of speech.” He also demanded that Newsday cancel their contract with Bok and remove the cartoon from all platforms. Newsday announced that the cartoon was removed from the website and online platforms.
Some readers also posted their displeasure with the cartoon, “Mistake? Because you got called out for it?,” one respondent said. “Sounds like it was a choice you made and now regret it. Not a mistake.”
“Finally being held accountable for your actions,” another reader said.
“You are only apologizing because you face backlash,” said another reader. “Your apology is not because you feel you did anything wrong. Truth is, you ran it KNOWING it was wrong, you didn’t care or have common respect for the dead or sympathy for his family and friends. You showed your true colors.”
“Who ever put it in should be fired!” said another reader.
“It’s this type of hate — by media outlets like Newsday and others, social media platforms, and national, state and local Democrat officials that instill political violence against those they disagree with,” Garcia added. “Silence is complicity.’