CNN contributor Van Jones reveals Charlie Kirk reached out for civil debate one day before assassination

Liberal CNN contributor Van Jones is praising Charlie Kirk for reaching out to him to have a civil debate one day before his assassination.

"The day before he was horrifically murdered, Charlie Kirk sent me a direct message on X. He and I had been sparring publicly over the killing of a Ukrainian refugee and its relationship to race," Jones wrote in an op-ed for CNN.com about the slain conservative activist.

Jones explained that Kirk held a position that the killing of a White woman by a Black man was motivated by anti-White hatred. Jones disagreed with that sentiment, saying on CNN that such a position was "unfounded."

"He went on TV and denounced MY denunciation. Then he unleashed a firehose of tweets, challenging my argument," Jones said.

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CNN contributor Van Jones wrote an op-ed praising Charlie Kirk for reaching out to him to have a civil debate. (Paul Marotta/Getty Images)

Jones’ criticisms of Kirk’s argument prompted "racist threats" against him, which he claimed was to the extent to which he had never seen before.

As opposed to the behavior Jones witnessed from others who flung threats at him, Kirk invited the former Obama official on his show to have a discussion.

"Hey, Van, I mean it, I’d love to have you on my show to have a respectful conversation about crime and race. I would be a gentleman as I know you would be as well. We can disagree about the issues agreeably."

"Unfortunately, before I could even respond, Charlie Kirk was killed — seemingly assassinated for the words he’s spoken, though the killer’s exact motives are still being investigated," Jones wrote.

Kirk's memorial service on Sunday drew a massive crowd at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Mourners attend Charlie Kirk’s memorial service at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.  (Jae C. Hong/AP)

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Jones further praised Kirk’s motives when debating students on college campuses and seeking out debates with progressives in a civil way.

"For all our differences, neither Charlie nor I ever wanted to see the other person harmed or silenced," Jones said.

He added, "To the contrary: I would have wanted to beat Charlie Kirk intellectually — by out-debating him. I would have wanted to see progressives beat him politically — by out-organizing him."

Jones condemned political violence in a tweet he posted shortly after Kirk was shot. 

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"Today’s attack on Charlie Kirk is absolutely horrifying and heartbreaking. He fought with words, not weapons. There is no place for political violence in our society and those responsible must be swiftly brought to justice. My prayers are with Charlie’s loved ones, the traumatized students at Utah Valley University and all who have been impacted by this senseless act."

Van Jones praised Charlie Kirk’s motives when debating students on college campuses. (Lynne Sladky/AP Photo)

"Political murder is wrong, period. I was born in 1968 — into a country being torn apart by riots and assassinations. I don’t want to go back to that. None of us should," Jones wrote.

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