Beni Rae Harmony announced Monday that she has resigned from ABC20 Springfield after being suspended for airing a tearful on-air tribute to conservative commentator Charlie Kirk following his assassination last week.
Harmony wrote on X that her resignation was "effective immediately" and that she chose to quit after being punished for what she described as a "non-partisan tribute". In the post she said she would not "set aside" her values to keep a job and added, "God Bless Charlie Kirk and his beautiful family, and God Bless these United States of America."
Video of the segment circulating on social media shows Harmony speaking through tears, calling Kirk her "first boss" and "mentor" and urging viewers that "it's okay if you feel sadness... if you're grieving." She recounted that Kirk was the person "who first made her believe in herself" and repeated a line she said he often used: "When conversation stops happening, when individuals become wordless, that's when violence begins." Harmony concluded the on-air remarks by encouraging viewers to "stand up for your friends, stand up for your beliefs and speak loudly if your voice shakes."
Harmony's LinkedIn lists her as a producer and administrator for Turning Point USA from August 2021 until February 2022. She did not provide additional details about the station's decision in her post, and Daily Mail reported that it reached out to WICS-ABC20 Springfield for comment.
Kirk, 31, was shot and killed on Sept. 10 while hosting a debate event at Utah Valley University in Orem. Prosecutors have indicated they will seek capital murder charges against the alleged shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who is due in court Tuesday.
Harmony said in her social post that many in "mainstream media" have faced consequences for their responses to Kirk's death and that she believed she was the first journalist penalized for honoring him on air. The remarks come as a number of public figures and media employees have faced job-related consequences tied to comments about the killing, including firings and resignations reported across outlets this week.
Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah announced Monday that she had been fired, according to social media posts. Other reported consequences include the dismissal of an MSNBC commentator and the resignation of a New Jersey surgeon after remarks about Kirk's death. Media organizations and employers cited in those reports have cited policy violations or offensive statements in announcing or explaining personnel moves.
Harmony's resignation adds to the broader debate over workplace speech and the boundaries of on-air commentary in the wake of a politically charged killing that has drawn national attention. Her post framed the decision as one driven by personal faith and principle: "My resignation is guided by values that are essential to who I am, which I refuse to set aside in order to keep a job," she wrote.
The case against the alleged shooter remains pending, and prosecutors have said they will file formal charging documents in the coming days. Station officials and public records did not immediately provide additional comment on Harmony's suspension or resignation.