A plan at Utah Valley University (UVU) to create a memorial to Charlie Kirk has been met by protests and a petition signed by thousands to block the effort. One protester declared, “We don’t want his likeness on campus.” That is hardly a new sentiment since Kirk was assassinated on the campus on Sept. 10, 2025. However, the protest shows the sense of license that many have in opposing anyone with conflicting views, including those represented in memorials.
I have a long history with UVU and was pleased to receive the Madison award from the university, and was declared an honorary faculty member years ago. It is a wonderful academic institution with a growing and vibrant intellectual community.
It was, therefore, particularly shocking to see that UVU was the scene of the assassination of Kirk and then to watch this protest over an effort to memorialize the advocate for free speech.
The UVU Students for a Democratic Society led the protests this week. One student, Collin Grannis, told KSTU, “We don’t want his likeness on campus; we don’t want his likeness sort of immortalized.”
Student Abagael Woods added, “For one thing, it’s going to get vandalized — there’s no way it’s not. And it’s going to re-traumatize a bunch of people.”
The suggestion that the school should not memorialize a victim of a criminal act due to the threat of additional criminal acts is chilling. It is not clear who would be “re-traumatized.” Some said that they were being traumatized by Kirk’s appearance at the school. For supporters of Kirk, the argument that they should be protected from the trauma of further criminal acts is menacing and mendacious.
Woods reportedly recommended a “memorial for unity” like therapy dogs on campus. Presumably, no one would dare to spray paint or shoot a therapy dog.
Many, however, feel the same license to destroy memorials to Kirk around the country.
The protestors’ campaign has drawn significant online support, with an anti-memorial petition surpassing 15,000 signatures. Meanwhile, a competing petition in favor of the memorial has gathered more than 21,000 signatures.
Over 15,000 people have signed the petition, declaring that “[Kirk’s] words and actions caused pain and division, and we cannot ignore the impact of his negativity.” Kirk’s support for the Second Amendment is cited as one of the reasons to block any memorial. Instead, the petition declares, “our hearts ache for the countless children who have tragically lost their lives to gun violence in schools. Their memories deserve to be honored with dedicated memorials, serving as a constant reminder of the urgent need for change.”
The suggestion of possible criminal acts in response to the memorial should only reinforce the commitment of the university to create it. Critics can then enlist as many therapy dogs as are necessary to deal with it, but they should be expelled if they attempt to deface it.
None of this is particularly surprising, but it is depressing. It is a sad statement on the views of many that they cannot, even as critics of Kirk, support a memorial to express the deep sadness over his murder on their campus. Kirk was someone who invited debate and fought for a diversity of opinion on campuses. Yet, even his memorial is now the subject of a cancel campaign.
What’s the big deal? There have been many nations in history where free speech was not only not allowed but punishable by death. They marched people into a colosseum attached their limbs to teams of horses and when the horses were wiped they pulled the enemies of the state apart. The crowds would cheer with great enthusiasm. The cheering has echoed down through history and its adherents can still be heard today. The members of the primitive cave man mind set are with us still and they shall not be allowed to prevail.
This idea that Kirk was “assassinated” is absurd.
The idea that he should have a memorial is insane.
I am reminded of Chris Rock’s comedy routine in 1999 as follows:
“I’m watching the news, and like, ”Tupac Shakur was assassinated. ”Biggie Smalls, assassinated. Struck down by assassin’s bullets.” I’m like, ”No, they wasn’t!” Martin Luther King was assassinated. Malcolm X was assassinated. John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Them two n*gg**s got shot. Sh!t, I love Tupac, I love Biggie, but school will be open on their birthday. I don’t think you’ll see their pictures hanging up… in your grandmamma’s living room. ”That’s Abraham, Martin, and Pac. ”And right here, I got one of Jesus and Biggie on the seesaw. ”Jesus always in the air.”
Kirk didn’t get “assassinated”.
He was just a bigoted, racist, extremist schmuck, who just got shot.
Anonymous, Martin Luther Kings picture can be seen in many peoples homes. So your ideology is supported like Aristotle like characters like Kid Rock. A fine hero that one.
To assassinate literally means to murder a socially prominent person,
so Kirk was most desfinitely assassinated.
The real and [dastardly!] ABSURDITY is your soulless diatribe in the face of such a heinous act—and when you color the issue with your own racist-bigoted extremism: you are the demons’ slave that brings such suffering to life and fruition. Hell smiles on you, and shame hangs its head even lower.
Why don’t you tell me what you really think !!
You seem to be holding back on your insults !!
Insults????????? Does truth really hurt that much
Thanks for demonstrating what kind of people you neo-Marxists are. You project your hatred and violent entitlement onto Kirk because through his open willingness to debate and kind heart he exposed you and your ilk for what you are not just to the world but to yourselves. Like vampires forced to look in a mirror, you recoiled and you hate him for it.
You’re a fking idiot, may the fleas of a thousand camels infest your armpits.
Presently, I reject the notion Charlie ‘just got shot’ like 2Pac. .. by a lone-nut gangster living in Gangsta’s Paradise
This guy’s plane just got shot down, I think.
No Kirk did not “Just get shot”
Nor was he the bigoted racist that you claim. Candice Owens was part of Turning points.
You left wing nuts try to claim EVERYONE you disagree with is a racist bigoted extremist nazi.
All you have succeeded in is removing the impact of those terms. Which is a very stupid choice.
Like the boy who cried Wolf you are likely to meet a real wolf in the future and no one will listen to your cries for help.
When you murder someone for their values – that is assassination.
He WAS “assassinated” and the fact that you can’t see that explains all we need to know about YOU.
“[Our] hearts ache for the countless children who have tragically lost their lives to gun violence in schools.”
What are the 43,000 annual U.S. highway deaths, chopped liver?
….and what about the COVID deaths, and the even greater numbers of VAXX-deaths? More chopped liver???
ano
countless children who have tragically lost their lives to gun violence in schools.
Yet lib judges keep letting these monsters back on the street to kill again.
That’s the real issue.
Dear Prof Turley,
In retrospect, I’ve come to appreciate Charlie Kirks obvious devotion to ‘open’ debate and his intellectual curiosity/honesty.
[however, while I may have enjoyed friendly debate with him, especially on his deeply held religious beliefs, don’t think limited Q&A sessions with college students setting would necessarily suffice for me. .. e.g. I certainly hope Jesus Christ didn’t ‘die for my sins’!]
It would appear Charlie Kirk changed his mind about his well-funded support for Israel’s military involvement in Gaza recently. Evidently, Charlie had recently refused donations from some of his most wealthy and powerful donors devoted to that cause .. . ‘Prove me wrong’.
In any case, the Judge over the trial of his alleged assassin (* 22yr. old Tyler Robinson) has now issued a sweeping GAG order on any information about the assassination. All of it. Ostensibly, that includes the free ‘press’. .. fwiw.
At this point, again, we have no idea who assassinated Charlie Kirk, much less why.
Which begs the question; why does UVU want to memorialize Charlie Kirk?
*Trump’s New NSPM-7 Labels Common Beliefs As Terrorism “Indicators” .. . New directive targets “anti-Christian,” “anti-American,” and “anti-capitalism” opinions
https://www.kenklippenstein.com/p/trumps-nspm-7-labels-common-beliefs
“In other words, they’re targeting pre-crime, to reference Minority Report ‘ (Klippenstien)….
dg, you mean like arresting J-6 preachers, grannies, and those flagged into the Capitol for tours; you mean like the people the DOJ put on terrorist lists because they went to school board meetings to object to pornographic material in their libraries; you mean like people being prosecuted for the thought-crimes of praying in front of abortion clinics—you mean like those kind of DIRECTIVES?!
dg, your so late with your wise complaints about abuse: government ALREADY did all that, in spades, while you slept alongside Biden!
Take it easy Bec .. . I would let my dog sleep with Biden’s flea-bitten rat-hole gang!
They’re unforgivable. They’re why Trump won the election . .. if you can’t impeach Trump, who can you impeach?
Nothing I’ve *ever* said supports prior gov. abuse. That abuse, just fyi, predates J6 by a couple of decades at least (see my book ‘9/11, 2001 An American Space Odessey’.).
Briefly, people who thought the Feds wouldn’t be all over Trump’s stupid ‘Stop the Steal’ rally on J6 ain’t got no sense.. . it was a Trap!
The question is whether you, and your ilk, support Trump’s outrageous abuse of power outlined in his recent NSPM-7?
*’katchup’ .. . what daddy tomato said to the baby tomatoe.
They can’t impeach Trump because their reasons are UN-REASONED. The extreme-left’s emotionally-based malicious prosecutions of Trump cannot prevail because they have never been about the “rule of law” or any real crimes—they’ve been vendettas, and the law does not reward this kind of fatuous politics….
Trump’s current spate of “executive orders” (declared openly—though many other administrations have been more secretive) may not be appreciated, and may indeed fall into the category of edgy, and what other feel is “abuse of power,” they are yet within the executive’s limits.
Lets quit clutching at our fake pearls and admit that we are living in times where the protections against leftist radicalism are necessary.
dg
if you can’t impeach Trump, who can you impeach?
**********************
Nice try. You pathetic libs did impeach over and over for nothing. They have said if they take back Congress, they will do it again.
Short memory
So very well said Dianna.
AI Overview
Women in CCP leadership
Following the 20th Party Congress in October 2022, there are no women in the CCP’s highest decision-making bodies:
Politburo Standing Committee: The innermost circle of power, which has seven members, has never had a woman.
Politburo: This 24-member executive body, the second-highest organ of power, has no female members for the first time in 25 years.
Voters under the American Founders:
Male, European, 21, 50 lbs. Sterling/50 acres
Turnout 11.6%
“It would appear Charlie Kirk changed his mind about his well-funded support for Israel’s military involvement in Gaza recently. Evidently, Charlie had recently refused donations from some of his most wealthy and powerful donors devoted to that cause .. . ‘Prove me wrong’.”
Before anyone can prove you wrong, you must produce a form of evidence that is credible. That is something you don’t do because you like your conspiracy theories created out of thin air.
Charlie Kirk never renounced Israel or switched sides.
I wait for solid data rather than your conspiracy theories based on bias rather than reality.
You nailed it Meyer.
The left makes these claims 7/24, but never bring proof.
DG
Really? Tyler Robinson)
said he hated Mr Kirk.
We need more gun running, more Fentanyl migration, more women pushed to the back of the bus, girls under the bus, babies Planned in sanctuary states. We need political congruence (“=”) and exclusion, too. The doctrine of Diversity (e.g. racism, sexism, etc) is indeed divisive, and especially DEI its institutional, systemic model and practice. #HateLovesAbortion
If UVU has a forum suited to host debates or visiting speakers, perhaps that could be named after Charlie Kirk and so decorated. It would be fitting to civil host debates on important societal issues in a place named after Charlie Kirk.
Arnold Nordsieck,
That is a great idea!
So true.
There is an old adage “you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make them drink” but in the case of Charlie Kirk he led a herd to the water and a lot of them drank! I believe Charlie had the ability to expose the interviewee in one on one debates. Charlie was a “truth” seeker!
How Charlie Kirk Always “OWNED The Libs” (And How 1 Student EXPOSED His Entire System)
remember when UVA Honored George Floyd with a Memorial to Enslaved Laborers?
TAKE AWAY THEIR MONEY. End federal backing of student loans and college and state aid!
ICYMI
Article 1, Section 8
Congress has the power to tax for and fund ONLY debt, defense, and “general Welfare.”
Congress has the power to regulate ONLY “the value of money,” “commerce (i.e. buying and selling) among nations, states, and Indian tribes,” and “land and naval Forces.”
Communism in all its aspects and facets, and to any degree, is irrefutably unconstitutional.
Free Derek Chauvin!
Derek Chauvin was trained in the police procedure he enforced against a violent suspect, and George Floyd had no constitutional right to harass, intimidate, resist arrest, steal, or cause bodily injury and property damage.
time to END Federal Aid to colleges
outlaw public unions!
TAKE Away Democrat MONEY and POWER!
And the cost will come down.
There is a proper compromise available. Just negotiate a memorial to Charlie Kirk if an additional memorial to the dead leaders of Hamas is also erected. There you have it. Problem solved.
To Hamasidols, yes. Also, to abortionists, ethnic Springs advocates, sanctuary providers, etc.
True that.
“…the protest shows the sense of license….” It’s worse than that. It’s the loss the loss of moral fiber, the loss of compassionate soul, the loss of humanity.
The nation seems to be in an “ass backward” state, we elevate criminals to sainthood and castigate the victims. Universities once a place of higher education have become perfusion chambers to stimulate the growth of antisocial behavior. Sometime ago the most radical behavior of the college student was eating goldfish or maybe attempting to get as many students you could possibly fit in a VW Beetle. Students left college well educated and prepared for their chosen profession, professors educated not indoctrinated.
This is old, but Sayet gives a good explanation of why the Democrat/Left is always on the wrong side of issues. Still very accurate:
Being this is the University that Charlie was murdered at while advocating his beliefs and platform of open and free discussion, it’s almost unimaginable that these idiotic students would have opposition to such a memorial. As I would believe that a high percentage of students there are mormons, you would think they would have more respect and sense in regard to this matter. Multiple memorials across the State honor the mormon faith, while the history of their prophet Brigham Young is checkered with murders, massacres and violence. Honoring or even Memorializing the location where a trans loving homosexual murdered him is the very least that the University could provide for, litigate for it if necessary. I am sure the University has some shared culpability in his murder, a total lack of Security.
It was not open or free. Charlie controlled the microphone of his challengers and did not allow for being fact checked on anything he said, though he did falsely declare statements by challengers were incorrect. He had people to ensure anyone effective at challenging him would be removed from participating.
Why should there be a monument to one so deceitful?
Here is a reality check. Most of those who are protesting are only ‘passing through’. When they leave they will get on with real issues like getting a job, paying bills, and being responsible for children, etc. So, it is up to the University to stand up for their values — if they have any! It takes courage to live up to for principles that go against the public whim or sentiments but then, we don’t see much for this from anyone — especially those who should value independent thought. Who wants to hire these students — beats me!
So bottom line — it’s all about money and the fear of losing it! Sadly JT, you put trust and respect in cowards.
I am concerned and surprised by the limiits Professor Turley seems to support in this blog post on protests and the opposition, including the following statement: “However, the protest shows the sense of license that many have in opposing anyone with conflicting views, including those represented in memorials.” — Concerned Citizen
And now we know why effigies are ‘anicon’ in religions.
‘Aniconism’ is the cultural and religious opposition to the use of idols or visual images, especially of divine or sacred figures. It is particularly relevant to traditions like Islam, Judaism, and certain forms of Christianity, and often stems from a desire to avoid idolatry and the belief that creating images of sentient beings is a human attempt to replicate God’s work. While aniconism prohibits certain types of art, it has also fostered the development of non-figural art, such as geometric patterns and calligraphy.
Your stretching for that one….the cultural practice of erecting statuary to honor great leaders and achiever is NOT about religion and idolatry. Your moronic-aniconic bluster, as usual, is bait for the religious detour you always take, just so you can bash it….
The comment was NOT a Bait-N-Switch. Point is: There are good reasons Not to Idolize things in Effigy.
“… the cultural practice of erecting statuary to honor great leaders and achiever is NOT about religion and idolatry. ” Oh really?
Jesus was not a great Leader? whom was assassinated upon the crucifix (By?) MLK had no “religion and idolatry”? also assassinated (By?) Hummm
Well if You say it’s not, then Its not. By all means if your going to Idolize Charlie, why don’t you put an Kirk Effigy on your front Lawn.
Lawn Jockeys were once popular to (non religious and non idolatry), adding an iconic effigy to your White supremacy will enhance everybody’s life in the neighborhood.
https://gardens.si.edu/collections/explore/object/hac_1988.006
The bait [“White supremacy”] and switch is on! : statues of Jesus are plenteous, as well as statuary for intellectual and cultural leaders, and many effigies honor events too! There’s nothing wrong with this human endeavor of art and spirit; it has nothing to do with “idolizing” but with honoring a life well-lived, a sacrifice, or an inspiring event. That said, Kirk deserves a memorial plaque, for now; it’s too soon for a statue, but his deep influence in the culture certainly merits one, in time.
As for your extreme-leftoid axe to grind, “white supremacy,” what took you so long to get back to your tired argument. While you can’t give credit where it is due, the fact is, Western Civilization made the world a better place. And before you get onto the “imperial/colonial” aspects of your diatribe, please remember that EVERY society on earth has perpetrated their own kinds of colonizing and social evils, including slavery.
Ok well I guess I’m wrong (according to you). But it seems to me that erecting a memorial to Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University (UVU) is quite a bit like building a Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem as in the place from which Muhammad ascended to heaven. Kirk’s believers can then make their annual pilgrimage and pray – “and that’s OK”.
It’s not like I’m comparing to a roadside ascension point memorial. Kirk’s memorial has (when built) religious ideological overtones. Don’t get me wrong with that view, We have whole Universities solely dedicated to that (Notre Dame comes to mind). If UVU feels it does or does-not go down that road more power to them. I don’t see that way and restate: there are some things and circumstances that you just do not memorialize because it leads to Idolatry (IMO).
You’re missing the point completely. It’s not about bashing a religion, it’s about the parallels of honor for those that willingly subject themselves to ridicule, scorn, violence and death for what they believe in. Taking down Confederate Statues in my opinion was a huge slight on every Southern son and daughter. Those monuments were erected for the families of those killed to gather, mourn, honor and reflect on the sacrifices and horrors of war. The point was that mormnons are predominantly the population of Utah, their own history is checkered with pretty rough and violent acts. They are a Godly minded people, first to help…the point was that Charlie Kirk was of similar struggle. I would think those people would support and rally away from these little Socialist dipwads in their efforts to silence freedom.
“You’re missing the point completely. It’s not about bashing a religion, it’s about the parallels of honor for those that willingly subject themselves to ridicule, scorn, violence and death for what they believe in. …”
Much like Jesus
Debate:
Is it Sacrilegious or not Sacrilegious?
Sacrilegious – It would be sacrilegious not to build Charlie Kirk’s Memorial because he was the living embodiment of the second coming Jesus 2.0 spreading the gospel of God. (GOD)
Sacrilegious – It would be sacrilegious to build Charlie Kirk’s Memorial because he was merely a mortal with high beliefs concurrent with Gods ideologies popular amongst a Political and Secular Followers. (MAN)
The point is: Some of you will feel that it is ‘sacrilegious’ not to build the Memorial, and Other of you will feel that it is ‘sacrilegious’ to build a Memorial.
Made upon: Your Beliefs, Your Convictions, Your Values – not the life of Charlie Kirk (a good sole) but that of which rest inside You (either way you are also a good sole).
Confederate statuary were mainly erected over 40 years after the end of the war when the Civil Rights movement was just beginning as a reminder that all those Black folk had been slaves not too long ago; that whites could do what they wanted and that those so memorialized fought to keep Black Americans in chains.
Those fighting in the Confederacy fought for only one thing – to continue slavery and the forced labor camps they were kept at.
So where would Maplethorpe’s “Piss Christ” fall in to line with that? It’s art according to the left after all…
Of course the leftists do not want Kirk memorialized. A memorial to him would be just as much a memorial to their abject failure to be able to prevail in any honest debate with him on the issues.
E Pluribus Unum. That’s a heavy lift for a nation grounded on the natural rights of the individual. We invented a republic like no other to govern ourselves. Here we have the loss by assassination of an individual very disliked by the left and very well liked by the right. What does a memorial for him memorialize? Respectfully, an E Pluribus Unum answer is We The People are better than that.
UVU needs stay ahead of curve by installing security check points and doing background checks of enrolled students.
Although I am a Christian (a real one) and voted for Trump, I feel Charlie Kirk is being overly lionized. His death is tragic, but he was not the great martyr he’s being represented as. While it might be appropriate for a historical marker to be placed there at some point, it’s too soon and a memorial is not really appropriate. Although Charlie is being advocated as if he were an elected or appointed official, he was actually a political activist. He’s gone to answer to the Lord he claimed to be a follower of, although his actual religious history is checkered – from Presbyterian to Pentecostal. Just let it be.
“semcgowanjr says”
Why does it seem likely that you are just another manifestation of the poseur woke troll mole who infests these comments with nonsense intended to be disruptive. If that is not the case, you need to do a better job of distinguishing your comments from his/hers. WHACK!
“as if he were an elected or appointed official…”
This nation was founded by freedom-loving political activists, many of them neither elected nor appointed, whose views were fiercely opposed by many. And like America’s Founders, Charlie Kirk served as a courageous and honorable beacon of hope in an environment hostile to liberty.
As for UVU, I think that institution can best honor Kirk’s image by including it on the ID cards of its students and staff.