Azernews.Az

For some Americans on the far right, Charlie Kirk died a "martyr," and any criticism of the hugely popular conservative activist must be punished, Azernews reports via France24.

Online vitriol and grassroots persecution have exploded in the wake of the assassination of the 31-year-old, who had been an electrifying presence on the US right.

Laura Sosh-Lightsy, assistant dean of students at a university in the southern state of Tennessee, found herself in hot water after posting on social media about Kirk's death.

"Hate begets hate. ZERO sympathy," she said on Facebook after the killing, which happened Wednesday in front of a large crowd at a university in Utah.

Republican US Senator Marsha Blackburn quickly called out the comment – and Sosh-Lightsy.

"This person should be ashamed of her post. She should be removed from her position," the Tennessee lawmaker said.

Middle Tennessee State University's president announced that same night an employee's firing for a "callous" comment about Kirk.

Kirk, who rallied his millions of followers to help President Donald Trump win a second White House term, was both revered and reviled for his pro-gun, anti-abortion and anti-immigrant rhetoric.

Shooting suspect Tyler Robinson, who was arrested Thursday, is said to have engraved anti-fascist and meme-culture messages on his bullet casings. This has led to a large part of the American right labelling him a "far-left" killer. Authorities have not provided many details about why they think Robinson carried out the attack on Kirk.