3 Chula Vista council members walked out as mayor honored Charlie Kirk

During the first Chula Vista City Council meeting since the death of Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10, Mayor John McCann departed from the agenda to offer words of condolence for the conservative pundit before the meeting ended and closed session began.

As McCann spoke on how Kirk inspired many in the cause of free speech and youth leadership, Councilmember Michael Inzunza stood and departed, followed by Carolina Chavez and Cesar Fernandez.

“His tragic death is a reminder of the frugality of life and the importance of treating people with dignity,” the Republican mayor said on Tuesday, Sept. 23.

As city staff and officials filed out of the council chambers, an unknown member of the public thanked McCann for his comments, “Thank you for doing that. I appreciate you.”

In the days following, video of the scene began generating interest online. The Reddit San Diego page had hundreds of comments, some praising the council members for what they saw as an act of silent protest or criticizing McCann for not honoring other victims of gun or political violence.

Still more commenters just wished to move on two weeks after Kirk’s death.

Inzunza, Chavez and Fernandez did not respond to requests for comment on why they chose to leave during McCann’s remarks.

Jose Preciado, the lone council member who stayed seated, said the moment was not a sign of dramatic divide among elected officials. He stayed seated because the meeting had not officially been adjourned, he said.

“It wasn’t a big moment,” Preciado said in a phone call. He said during the closed session the moment was not discussed and everyone simply went home after. “Nothing happened.”

In the days following the meeting, McCann sent a statement urging unity.

“It is time for us to come together, find common solutions, and put an end to the politics of division and hate,” McCann said in the statement. “The recent, unacceptable act of violence—where a life was taken simply because someone created open forums for civil debate—reminds us of the urgent need to protect both our democracy and our shared humanity. We must reject hate and violence in all forms and recommit ourselves to respectful dialogue, unity, and peace.”

McCann’s statement did not directly address his colleagues’ exit.