Dozens of furious Floridians descended on Palmetto Bay, demanding Democrat councilman Steve Cody’s resignation for his vile Facebook mockery of slain conservative Charlie Kirk, as Breitbart reports.
Protesters rallied Thursday evening after Cody posted a crass message ridiculing Kirk’s Christian faith and gun rights advocacy, hours after the activist’s assassination on Wednesday at Utah Valley University. The 31-year-old Turning Point USA founder was shot in the neck during a public debate, leaving behind a wife and two children.
Cody’s now-deleted post twisted the Lord’s Prayer into a sick jab at Kirk’s Second Amendment stance, sparking immediate outrage. “Charlie Kirk is a fitting sacrifice to our Lords: Smith and Wesson. Hallowed be their names,” Cody wrote, a line that protesters and local leaders slammed as heartless.
The backlash was swift, with Palmetto Bay residents accusing Cody of celebrating Kirk’s death while sneering at his faith. Protesters told local media this wasn’t a one-off but part of Cody’s pattern of divisive behavior. The Republican Party of Florida echoed this, branding him a “bully drunk on power.”
“Cody’s behavior is part of a long pattern,” said Evan Power, GOP official. “He has bullied his neighbors, silenced residents, cut off council members mid-sentence, and shut down dissent at every turn.” Such accusations point to Cody’s history of controversies, including a costly legal spat over a colleague’s swearing-in ceremony.
Elected to serve until 2028, Cody doubled down, refusing to resign despite the uproar. He deleted his Facebook account after posting a lengthy apology, captioned with a flippant “I screwed up.” The apology, later shared with the press, failed to quell the storm.
“Yesterday, I regrettably made a significant error in judgment by sharing a quotation on my personal Facebook page that referenced remarks made by the deceased Charlie Kirk,” Cody wrote. He claimed the post stemmed from frustration with gun violence, not his personal values. Yet, his words rang hollow to many, given his refusal to step down.
“This action, born out of my deep anger and frustration with the now too common tragedy of gun violence, was misguided,” Cody continued. His attempt to frame the post as a critique of gun culture fooled no one, especially when he later admitted to NBC6 Boston that he intended to highlight “irony” in Kirk’s death.
“I do think there’s a certain bit of irony in it,” Cody told NBC6, digging a deeper hole. Protesters saw this as doubling down on his mockery, not regret. His insistence on serving out his term only fueled their resolve.
Palmetto Bay Mayor Karyn Cunningham joined the protesters, issuing a pointed call for Cody’s resignation. “Violence has no place in our community or in our nation, and words that seek to diminish or make light of such tragedy are equally harmful,” she said. Her stance underscored the community’s demand for accountability.
The village’s official Facebook page amplified the protest, sharing images from the Thursday rally, which coincided with a 9/11 memorial event. “Our Mayor and members of the Council spoke with protesters at Village Hall calling for the resignation of Councilmember Steve Cody,” the statement read. It urged residents to voice concerns at the upcoming council meeting on September 17.
Cody’s defiance persisted in interviews with CBS News and Florida Politics, where he dismissed resignation demands. “I gave it some thought and thought that it could be seen as being insensitive,” he said, admitting the post’s harm but clinging to his seat. His nonchalance only deepened public disgust.
Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative voice, was killed on Wednesday while debating students at Utah Valley University, shot before a crowd of nearly 3,000. The 22-year-old suspect, Tyler Robinson, was arrested Friday, law enforcement confirmed. Kirk’s death left a void in the conservative movement, where he was a galvanizing force for young activists.
“This wasn’t just mocking a murdered patriot,” said Evan Power. “It was spitting on Charlie’s faith, ridiculing his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and sneering at a family and a movement grieving a tragedy.” Cody’s post, Power argued, exposed a callous disregard for both Kirk’s legacy and basic decency.
The Palmetto Bay council now faces a reckoning, with residents urged to attend the Sept. 17 meeting to demand change. Cody’s refusal to resign, coupled with his history of controversies, paints a picture of a politician more enamored with power than principle. His mockery of a slain man’s faith proves progressives’ moral posturing is often just that—posturing.
