The Florida House passed a bill – House Bill 125 – Feb. 25, officially honoring Charlie Kirk, a right-wing activist who was fatally shot at Utah Valley State University last September.
In an 82 to 31 party-line vote, the House approved Oct. 14 – Kirk’s birthday – as “Charlie Kirk Remembrance Day.”
Forty state representatives co-sponsored the bill. Marco Island Republican Rep. Yvette Benarroch originally filed the legislation, writing the bill’s preface, which stated that “[Kirk] believed deeply in the promise of America and the power of open dialogue. This bill reminds us that courage still matters, free speech must always be protected, and the values that built this nation are worth defending.”
On a national level, Oct. 14 is already designated as a day of remembrance for Kirk. Locally, in Pinellas County, the day of his assassination at Utah Valley State College (Sept. 10) was similarly designated.
The bill was also advocated for passage by four lobbying organizations: Florida Family Action, Florida Family Voice, Christian Family Coalition of Florida and Florida Voice for the Unborn, Inc.
These prominent, interrelated conservative advocacy groups engage social and legal disputes, advocating laws that address banning “obscene” materials in classrooms, allowing parental rights over children’s health and insisting anti-vaccine legislation, while opposing gender identity policy and diversity, equity and inclusion programs, among others.
Passing alongside HB 125 was HB 33, which renames a one-mile stretch of Southwest 107th Avenue (between Coral Way and Southwest Eighth Street) in Miami-Dade County “Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue.”
Critics have argued that Kirk’s ties to Florida were merely political and therefore insubstantial to warrant a day of remembrance or a renamed street. Adding to the contention surrounding the bill, many have underscored Kirk’s message as bigoted, sexist and racist.
During the legislative session, Rep. Berny Jacques, referring to HB 33, said: “[Kirk] was a man who was an American patriot of the highest order, a man who engaged in free and open debate with those who vehemently disagreed with him, setting up a tent on campus, saying, ‘prove me wrong.’”
“A man who did not come brandishing a weapon against his opponents but simply brandishing a microphone, a microphone for his very opponents to say what they wanted to say.”
Jacques continued that Kirk’s message was so effective that “the radical left chose to snuff him out so those conversations stop. But those conversations will not stop.”