The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk Wednesday is renewing urgent questions about political violence in America, and researchers warn it’s part of a growing trend reshaping how Americans engage with politics.

People who track political violence say this week’s attack highlights a dangerous rise in hostility. The concern isn’t just about high-profile figures like Kirk, but also about what’s happening in communities across the country.

“There are a lot of the elements of the attack that are particularly chilling,” said Shannon Hiller, who leads the Bridging Divides Initiative at Princeton University.

Hiller said Kirk’s assassination is especially alarming because it happened on a college campus — a place many expect to be safe for free expression and debate.

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