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Alexandria pastor’s Charlie Kirk comments spark national debate

By Ryan Belmore
Published September 15, 2025 at 9:41AM


The Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley delivers his Sunday sermon at Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Va., on Sept. 15, 2025. During the sermon, Wesley criticized the decision to fly flags at half-staff for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, calling Kirk "an unapologetic racist." (Screenshot via YouTube)

The Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley, senior pastor of Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, has found himself at the center of a national controversy after comments he made about slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk went viral on social media over the weekend.

Wesley’s remarks, delivered during a Sunday sermon at the historic Alexandria church, were shared widely after journalist Don Lemon posted a clip on Instagram. Wesley’s criticism came on the same day hundreds gathered at the nearby Kennedy Center for a prayer vigil honoring Kirk. The pastor argued that Kirk should not be honored with flags at half-staff despite his assassination, calling the activist “an unapologetic racist” who spent his life “sowing seeds of division and hate.”

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The controversial comments

During his sermon, Wesley made clear his position on the national honor being bestowed upon Kirk, who was shot and killed on Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University.... “Charlie Kirk did not deserve to be assassinated,” Wesley said. “But I am overwhelmed seeing the flags of the United States of America at half-staff, calling this nation to honor and venerate a man who was an unapologetic racist and spent all of his life sowing seeds of division and hate into this land.”

The pastor’s criticism extended beyond the flag controversy, addressing broader questions about how public figures should be remembered after death. ...“I am sorry, but there’s nowhere in the Bible where we are taught to honor evil,” Wesley continued. “And how you die does not redeem how you lived. You do not become a hero in your death when you are a weapon of the enemy in your life.” ... Wesley acknowledged he could “abhor the violence” that took Kirk’s life while maintaining he didn’t “have to celebrate how you chose to live.”

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Ryan Belmore
Ryan Belmore is the Publisher of ALXnow.com. An award-winning publisher, editor, and journalist, he has led local independent online newsrooms since 2012. Originally from Rhode Island, he and his wife, Jen, moved to Alexandria in 2021. Since then, he has served on the City of Alexandria's Commission for the Arts and Board of Zoning Appeals. Send news, tips, information, and feedback to news@alxnow.com.

Benjamin Dreyer
‪@bcdreyer.social‬

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“How you die does not redeem how you lived.”

‪Air-rum‬
‪@aarum.bsky.social‬
· 10h
This was a word AND he cussed 😂

September 14, 2025 at 9:38 PM