Gwinnett County Sheriff Keybo Taylor is under fire for a Facebook post he made following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The post, which Taylor said was “not a political post,” has sparked widespread criticism from residents and conservative leaders who argue the sheriff used his platform to disparage Kirk instead of focusing on community healing.
In the post, Taylor said he prayed for Kirk’s wife and children but told followers, “if you support the actions of Kirk, do me a favor. Unfriend me.” He went on to accuse Kirk of using “every opportunity to stroke the fires of hate” and noted that several historically Black colleges and universities canceled classes out of fear of retaliation after the killing.
Taylor concluded by pledging to keep Gwinnett residents safe and adding, “in the end we ALL will have to give account of our actions. I’m sure God will not care about what party we identify with.”
The reaction was swift. Kylie Jane Kremer, executive director of Women for America First, called the post inappropriate in a message on X, writing that “instead of uniting his community… Sheriff Keybo Taylor used his personal Facebook page to disparage the victim.” She demanded his resignation.
On the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, unrelated posts have been flooded with comments demanding Taylor’s resignation and condemning his Kirk comments.
Kirk, 31, was shot and killed last week during an appearance at Utah Valley University. Prosecutors in Utah have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder in the killing.
Taylor has not issued an official statement beyond his original Facebook post. As of Monday, county officials had not commented on whether they plan to address the controversy.
The Post: Here is Taylor’s post that you can read in its entirety.
How to Read and Understand the News
Truth doesn’t bend because we dislike it.
Facts don’t vanish when they make us uncomfortable.
Events happen whether we accept them or not.
Good reporting challenges us. The press isn’t choosing sides — it’s relaying what official, verified sources say. Blaming reporters for bad news is like blaming a thermometer for a fever.
Americans have a history of misunderstanding simple things. In the 1980s, A&W rolled out a 1/3-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder. It failed because too many people thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If we can botch basic math, we can certainly misread the news.
Before dismissing a story, ask yourself:
- What evidence backs this?
- Am I reacting to facts or feelings?
- What would change my mind?
- Am I just shooting the messenger?
And one more: Am I assuming bias just because I don’t like the story?
Smart news consumers seek truth, not comfort.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
