A Television anchor from Illinois, Beni Rae Harmony, who claimed that she was suspended by WICS-ABC20, an ABC-affiliated station, for an on-air tribute she paid to slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, quit the company following the decision.
"Many in the mainstream media have been fired or punished for mocking his assassination. I believe I am the first to be targeted for honoring him on air," she wrote in a social media post.
She said she was suspended for airing a "non-partisan" tribute to Kirk.
In her one-minute and 17-second tribute, she had said Kirk was her first boss and that he was also a mentor to her.
NEW: Local Springfield, Illinois reporter suspended for her on-air tribute to Charlie Kirk.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 16, 2025
Beni Rae Harmony says she decided to resign following the suspension.
"Thank you, CK. You changed my life." - @BeniRaeHarmony.pic.twitter.com/rnRMQvRDh4
In her tribute, she recalled something that Kirk would always tell them in the office. "He would yell it from the mountaintops, so please listen: ‘When conversations stop happening. When individuals become wordless, that’s when violence begins. So, if you do one thing today, make it be with passion, with conviction, stand up for your friends, stand up for your beliefs, and speak loudly, even if your voice shakes. Your words have meaning, your values have purpose. Never forget that,” she said.
In her social media post, Harmony said her resignation is guided by her values that are essential to who she is, which she refuses to set aside to keep her job.
"I choose my faith and love of country, and always will."
When did she work with Kirk
According to her LinkedIn Profile, Harmony worked as Deputy Press Secretary, US House of Representatives, part-time, before joining as producer and administrator with Kirk's Turning Point US, where she "managed the Turning Point USA's Washington DC location, ensuring smooth operations and effective scheduling, and scheduled interviews and booked guests, fostering connections within the political and media landscape."
Harmony worked with Turning Point USA for seven months, before moving on to American Global Strategies as director of administrative and media operations.
She was also the director of public affairs with US Political Campaign, before joining as a staff writer with Arizona Today.
Harmony worked as a radio show host with WOODWARD BROADCASTING INC before joining Rincon Broadcasting, which acquired WICS-ABC20.
