Oklahoma Republican legislators have already raised the bar. These jokers have actually proposed legislation mandating that each and every one of their state’s public universities construct a “Charlie Kirk Memorial Plaza,” replete with a statue of the late conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder. The proposal seeks to honor Kirk’s legacy following his assassination, which has drawn both praise and criticism from various quarters.
At a time when conservative activism was still largely defined by firebrand activists like Charlie Kirk, who made names for themselves through inflammatory statements and campus disruption, Mr. He also had very firm opinions on things that would lead to firecracker arguments. His comments, which included disparaging civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and raising doubts about the intelligence of accomplished Black women, Despite the controversy, Kirk earned commendation from a few Republican legislators. Perhaps not surprisingly, Oklahoma state senators Shane Jett and Dana Prieto heralded his intense commitment to right wing ideals.
The bill’s proponents describe Kirk as “a voice of a generation, modern civil rights leader, vocal Christian, martyr for truth and faith, and free speech advocate.” Jett emphasized Kirk’s commitment to his faith, stating, “Whoever spares the rod hates their child,” reflecting Kirk’s staunch conservative and Christian beliefs.
Kirk’s life will be celebrated next week at a public memorial service in Arizona, with President Joe Biden likely to be among those celebrating Kirk’s life. His legacy has drawn much praise and criticism, especially in cases where he has been compared with civil rights giants. Supporters like a representative from Georgia and a deputy chief of the New York police department have likened Kirk to Martin Luther King Jr. They underscore his profound impact on the youth movement and political discussion.
These comparisons have received fierce counterargument from the members of the King family. MLK3 shot down the idea that Kirk represented the model of inclusiveness we’d all expect from the values his father fought for.
“When you’re doing that, it’s a disservice to unification,” – Martin Luther King III
He further articulated his disagreement with the idea that Kirk’s activism was aligned with the values of his father, stating, “certainly was a force in this society and a significant force, but I just disagree with the position that his force was about inclusiveness.”
Bernice King, one of Martin Luther King Jr.’s daughters, responded to a meme showing Kirk next to her father. She criticized the portrayal as “false.” She shared her anger at the efforts to mud sling by trying to compare Kirk’s extreme ideology with her father’s powerful message.
“There are so many things wrong with this. So many. I get tired, y’all,” – Bernice King
Kirk’s advocacy certainly wasn’t without controversy in his lifetime. His comments about Black women drew considerable backlash after he suggested that some lacked “the brain processing power to be taken seriously.” It’s not surprising that such statements have prompted critics to raise questions over the appropriateness of memorializing him in such a large – and costly – manner.
And despite hurdles, Oklahoma lawmakers are still pushing full steam ahead to make the memorial a reality. This decision follows widespread pushback from student groups, with polls revealing that nearly 70% of students stand against Kirk’s stance. The proponents claim it would be a great educational resource and develop an interest in STEM for the future.
The idea for a memorial has received endorsements from several organizations. Perhaps most curiously of all, a Russian bishop thanked Kirk, praising him for his efforts to spread conservative Christian ideology on college campuses. Even Cardinal Dolan of New York hailed him as “a modern day Saint Paul.” This comment deepens the mythic, hero’s journey quality to Kirk’s legacy story.
Lawmakers are urging that Kirk be commemorated with statues. They need to meet the greater challenge of his own toxic legacy. The bill requires that if universities do not meet the memorial obligations, they may be subject to monthly fines.