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The Revolution Chronicles- Part XVI

  • Alex Pineda
  • Jan 9
  • 4 min read

You Say You Want a Revolution…

Reflecting on the tragic and dramatic assassination of Charlie Kirk, emotions are running high. People are wondering “why” did this happen? In order to truly understand the shooter’s motive, we need to understand the ideological forces driving this “revolutionary climate.”

Terrorism investigations look beyond the individual actions of the offender. The shooter left some obvious “clues,” including: “if you read this, you are gay lmao,” along with the Italian phrase, “Bella Ciao.” The latter has roots in the anti-fascist movement during World War II, but is now popular on TikTok. More obvious the phrase: “Hey fascist! Catch!” Each of these indicate his ideological thinking–and the motive for the shooting. Additionally, reports that that shooter was living with a man, who is transitioning to a woman may go to the reference to “gay” and being a transgender advocate.

Having studied terrorism for decades, including doing my Mater’s thesis and writing a book entitled: Terrorism & Public Safety Policing https://www.amazon.com/Terrorism-Public-Safety-Policing-Implications/dp/B01JXTZO5E, I have spent thousands of hours delving into the “why’s” of terrorism.

The summer of love in 2020, was a wake up call to me. It was clear then that the death of George Floyd was not the actual reason for the civil unrest. Nor was this a “reason” to “defund the police,” or for the BLM/Antifa movement. Floyd’s death was only the “trigger” to a much larger agenda. The agenda was to activate the WOKE revolution. This is done by using the guise of police misconduct to awaken a progressive uprising.

History Repeats Itself…?

This hearkens back to the turbulence of the 1960’s following the assassinations of Dr. King, RFK, along with the violence stemming from the civil rights movement, and the anti-war sentiment dominating college campuses around the country. A quote from my new book https://www.amazon.com/You-Say-Want-Revolution-Compelling/dp/195593729X may be instructive:

“The seeds of these extremes have been deeply rooted. Following the protests and riots in the 1960s, the Students for Democratic Society (SDS) saw factions break away. One such faction was the Weather Underground. This group was described as a domestic terrorist group by the FBI. Its founding document called for a “White fighting force” to be allied with the “Black Liberation Movement” (ironically “BLM”) and other radical movements to achieve “the destruction of US imperialism and form a classless Communist world (emphasis added).”

On September 10, 2025, while attending a meeting at the Memphis city hall where Dr. King’s image dominated the room, Charles Kirk was shot in Utah. Kirk’s assassination, as was King’s assassination, will prove to be either a “Turning Point” or a “Tipping Point” for this country.

Using the lyrics of the 1968 Beatles song “Revolution,” I asked the provocative question: You Say You Want a Revolution…? Trying to echo John Lennon, this provocative question was designed to “tap down” the revolutionary climate percolating in the 1960’s. The song “Revolution” was actually a mirror opposite of the confrontational genre of the time, such as “Ohio” and “Chicago.”

With Kirk’s assassination, and his widow Erika’s heartfelt and piercing words: “You Have No Idea What You Have Unleashed,” one can conclude that something big is happening. People are galvanizing and positions will harden.

Looking back to the 1960’s when the street protests and riots failed to achieve their “revolution,” true believers went underground. The assassination of Kirk is but one example of “direct action,” as described by terrorism experts. Unfortunately, more attacks should be expected in the months ahead.

Unlike the 60’s, the larger population (silent majority) rejected the revolution and its attendant violence. Today the country is divided, roughly 51% to 49%… with corporate media institutions leaning heavily to the left. Yet, social media and conservative networks will communicate facts and thoughts running contrary to the established networks. Each of these sources cater to our personal and political biases. Adding to this dynamic, the MAGA movement will not stand by idling.

What’s Next…?

Monitoring statements from both progressives and conservatives, it does not take a terrorism expert to conclude that times ahead will be, as the Chinese say, interesting… Here are a few examples:

Be Careful What You Ask For…

The title of Chapter One of my book: https://www.amazon.com/You-Say-Want-Revolution-Compelling/dp/195593729X warns of opening pandora’s box. Now four years after I commenced writing the manuscript, my heartfelt desire is to see this country overcome the revolutionary climate we are in. I stepped out in faith then because this country is worth saving.

I did so without any realistic expectation that anyone would care enough to read the book and to change. Three years after its publication has shown that the “R” word is so radioactive that even my “friends” ignored it. Though predictable, my larger purpose enabled me to rest knowing I tried.

So, my default position is and was to warn. I do this again now. One can only hope and pray that reasonable minds will prevail.

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