Republican lawmakers in Oklahoma have introduced legislation requiring every public university in the state to construct a “Charlie Kirk Memorial Plaza” in honor of the slain conservative activist and podcaster. The bill mandates that each memorial must feature a statue — either of Kirk seated at a table with an empty chair across from him or alongside his wife and children — along with signage describing him as “a modern civil rights leader, vocal Christian, martyr for truth and faith, and free speech advocate.” Universities that fail to comply would face monthly fines equal to 1% of their state funding.The proposal has drawn strong reactions, particularly over efforts to elevate Kirk’s legacy by comparing him to historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, and Saint Paul. Martin Luther King III rejected such comparisons, stressing that his father worked to unite people, while Kirk’s record included disparaging remarks about Black women. Bernice King also criticized a viral meme placing Kirk alongside her father and other iconic leaders, saying: “There are so many things wrong with this.”Although Kirk founded Turning Point USA, one of the largest conservative student networks in the U.S., polling shows he was unpopular on most campuses, with 70% of students opposing his views. Still, Oklahoma legislators backing the bill — both members of the state’s Freedom Caucus — describe Kirk in explicitly religious terms. Senator Shane Jett even called him “a faithful servant of Christ.”
Tributes from religious and political figures continue. Cardinal Timothy Dolan praised Kirk as “a modern-day Saint Paul,” while critics argue such portrayals ignore his divisive rhetoric, racism, and sexism. The debate underscores deep divisions over Kirk’s legacy and whether universities should be compelled to enshrine his memory.
Controversial Bill Sparks Debate Over Legacy, Civil Rights Comparisons
