U.S. authorities investigating the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk said Thursday that an unfired bullet casing inscribed with the words “Bella ciao” was found in connection with the suspected gunman.
Officials said the phrase is a reference to the Italian folk song that became an anti-fascist anthem during World War II, embraced by resistance fighters opposing Nazi occupation and Mussolini’s regime.
Originally sung by rice-field workers as a protest against harsh conditions, “Bella ciao” was repurposed in the 1940s as a partisan hymn symbolizing freedom and resistance to tyranny. In recent decades, it has resurfaced globally in political movements and popular culture, including films and music.
Kirk, 31, was the founder and president of Turning Point USA, a youth-oriented conservative organization known for its staunch defense of right-wing policies and its close alignment with Republican politics. A polarizing figure, he was widely followed on social media and frequently defended former President Donald Trump while criticizing progressive causes.
The discovery has added a symbolic layer to the case, with investigators examining whether the inscription points to political or ideological motivations behind the killing.
