Authorities investigating the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk have revealed a surprising cultural connection tied to the crime scene. Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced Friday that investigators recovered bullets used in the attack that bore inscriptions of lyrics from “Bella Ciao,” a historic Italian protest song. The 22-year-old suspect, identified as Tyler Robinson of Utah, was taken into custody earlier this week.
The words “O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao”—the chorus of the song—were etched onto at least one spent casing. The discovery has drawn attention to the anthem’s complicated history.
Often associated with World War II resistance fighters, “Bella Ciao” actually traces its origins back to the 19th century. Scholars such as Diana Garvin, an assistant professor at the University of Oregon, and Stanislao Pugliese, a modern European history professor at Hofstra University, explained that the song was first sung by mondine—Italian women laborers in rice fields—protesting grueling working conditions. Over time, the song became a vehicle for labor organizing and anti-fascist movements, gaining new partisan lyrics after the war.
The anthem has since been embraced globally. Versions have been recorded by artists ranging from Yves Montand to Becky G, with recent appearances in Netflix’s Money Heist and the video game Far Cry 6. Garvin noted that the song has been translated into many languages, symbolizing resistance and solidarity across cultures.
In light of its use in the Kirk case, however, scholars expressed concern. “The entire situation is heartbreaking,” Garvin said, pointing to the escalation of political violence. Pugliese added that the connection could alter how Italians and others view the song: “I’m not sure we can sing it again in the same way with this shadow hanging over us.”
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