The recent assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk has led to increased scrutiny of a Utah-based group known as Armed Queers Salt Lake City (AQSLC). In the wake of the murder, AQSLC, a self-styled revolutionary LGBT organization advocating Marxist principles, abruptly deleted all its social media accounts. This action has raised eyebrows among conservative circles and prompted an FBI investigation into whether the group had any advance knowledge of the attack.
Armed Queers Salt Lake City was founded in 2020 and has since been vocal about its support for "oppressed people's movements," including "trans" liberation, anti-capitalist exploitation efforts, and the abolishment of prisons and police. The group is known for its armed activism and boasts international connections, notably with communist Cuba, as part of its revolutionary ethos. Archived social media posts reveal members participating in firearms training and providing armed security at various events, such as drag shows and campus activities.
The leader of AQSLC, Ermyia Fanaeian, is an Iranian-born trans-identifying activist with a history of political organizing and advocacy for gun violence prevention. Fanaeian's journey from Iran, where LGBT individuals face severe persecution, to the University of Utah marked a significant turn towards activism. Fanaeian's work includes involvement in Congressman Ben McAdams' (D) 2018 campaign and co-founding the nonprofit March for Our Lives Utah.
AQSLC's radical politics and the timing of its social media disappearance have not gone unnoticed. The group's recommended reading list features Marxist and radical figures, and it maintains alliances with various activist organizations. Its participation in the National Network on Cuba (NNOC) aligns it with groups like the Communist Party USA and the Democratic Socialists of America, further cementing its radical position.
The group's sudden silence on social media platforms coincided with Kirk's assassination, intensifying conservative apprehensions. While no direct link between AQSLC and Tyler Robinson, the suspect in Kirk's murder, has been confirmed, the FBI's interest suggests a cautious approach to understanding the group's potential involvement or foreknowledge.
AQSLC's disappearance from social media platforms has generated a significant volume of conservative commentary on platforms like Twitter. Tweets from various accounts have highlighted the group's radical Marxist training, its affiliations with the State Department and the UN, and its potential ties to domestic extremism. These reactions underscore the broader national conversation about radical activism and domestic security concerns, particularly in conservative states like Utah, where such activity has historically been minimal.
In conclusion, the scrutiny of Armed Queers Salt Lake City after Charlie Kirk's assassination illustrates the tension between radical political activism and national security. As investigations continue, the group's actions and affiliations will likely remain a focal point in the ongoing debate over the nature and implications of domestic extremism.
