Del. Anitra Hamilton, D-Morgantown, who leads the NAACP branches in Monongalia and Preston counties, is facing expulsion calls after social media posts in which she tied Charlie Kirk to domestic terrorism in the wake of his murder. The messages described Kirk's death in terms of racial hostility and demanded accountability for what she described as racist rhetoric in political discourse. In one post, she wrote, "The value of truth exposes your values, priorities and beliefs. You can profess Jesus, tweet about Him, and talk about Him in your speeches, and yet be a racist." In another, she argued, "You can murder one woman on a train by stabbing her in the neck and be condemned by the masses or you can travel the nation spewing hatred and racism, harming thousands and be loved by the masses and both have the same outcome." And she added, "Speaking words of a racist nature is not your First Amendment right, but are acts of domestic terrorism upon the souls of American people."
Her posts were circulated by Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., and others, triggering condemnation from Republican colleagues and civil rights advocates. Moore said Hamilton should face expulsion and warned that the ideology behind the posts is dangerous for public life. "This is the ideology we are up against. Tolerating the warped mindset that leads to disgusting behavior like this from radical Leftists with no consequence is how we end up with a 31-year-old dad being shot and killed in cold blood," Moore said, referring to Kirk’s death. Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., condemned Hamilton as well, saying, "The delegate from the 81st District ought to be ashamed because celebrating the death of an individual who engages in regular political dialogue on college campuses is really, truly sad to see."
Before any of this, the dynamic around Hamilton’s appointment had already drawn scrutiny. A senior government staffer familiar with the appointment told Fox News Digital that the governor-turned-senator originally appointed Hamilton to the role and that he was bound by a rule to choose from Democrats’ handpicked options. Del. Wayne Clark, R-Charles Town, reserved comment on Hamilton’s statements but said Kirk’s murder is a "tragic loss for our country" and that those who argue for violence or for excusing it should question their moral beliefs on the preservation of life. State Del. Geno Chiarelli, a Republican who also represents Monongalia County, confirmed discussions have taken place in the legislature about how to punish Hamilton, up to and including expulsion, though he cautioned that such steps would require caucus consensus.
A Charleston official noted that an expulsion would require a 2/3 vote of the 91-9 GOP-majority chamber, which would be a high hurdle. "The left is already trying to downplay this, but the reality is sobering: Charlie Kirk was murdered by somebody who thought he was ‘full of hate,’" Moore said, adding that lawmakers cannot be "justifying murder."
Beyond Mountaineer country, other lawmakers have faced blowback for their responses to Kirk's death. In Bernville, Pennsylvania, Mayor Shawn Raup-Konsavage posted a clip from Kirk’s podcast implying he was glad Kirk had died. "This is what MAGA represents. This is what Trump lowered flags for," Raup-Konsavage wrote, according to Allentown’s WFMZ-69 News. "If this represents you, then I don't want to hear that you are offended that I'm glad he is gone." Raup-Konsavage had previously drawn attention after a post that reportedly read, "Try harder." Separately, a councilmember in Tucson, Arizona, faced backlash for a misspelled post meant to read "Karma" after Kirk’s murder, according to the city’s CBS affiliate. In Wellsburg, West Virginia, Mayor Dan Dudley reportedly wrote, "Sad day in America. Flying an American flag half-mast for a racist. Priceless. Wellsburg Mayor Daniel L. Dudley," prompting comment from State Del. Jimmy Willis, R-Wellsburg, who told Fox News Digital that violence is never the answer.
Fox News Digital reached out to Hamilton and to the NAACP’s Kingwood chapter for comment. The reporting also reflects a broader national debate about political rhetoric and violence, sparked by the high-profile killing of a public figure and the way public officials and constituents respond to it. As the Kirk case continues to reverberate, statehouses across the country are reassessing norms around civility, accountability and the boundaries of free expression in political life.
The episode underscores how statements tied to a high-profile death can become flashpoints for partisan conflict and trigger formal consequences in a political system that weighs professional discipline against an aggressive public discourse. While Hamilton remains a figure of significant controversy in West Virginia, the broader national response illustrates the delicate balance lawmakers must strike between defending free speech and condemning language that is seen as inviting or celebrating violence.
For now, the question remains whether Hamilton will face formal expulsion or other sanctions, and how her case will influence the broader conversation about political rhetoric and violence in the United States. The events highlight a national landscape in which political disagreements are increasingly entangled with attitudes toward public safety and civic responsibility, particularly in the wake of a deadly incident that has deepened existing fault lines in American political life.
This report is based on multiple outlets’ coverage and statements from lawmakers and public officials. It is part of ongoing coverage of US politics and the public response to political rhetoric and violence.
