The assassination of Charlie Kirk is a tragic moment that strikes at the heart of one of the most essential principles of any democracy: freedom of speech. Whether we agreed with him or not and personally, I disagreed with much of what he preached, the right to express one’s beliefs without fear of violence is something that must always be protected. To lose a life because of words, opinions, or ideas is not only heartbreaking, it is dangerous for the society we are all trying to build.