A Florida legislator is seeking to require every college and university to rename an on-campus road after Charlie Kirk or lose state funding.
HB 113, a two-page bill from Kevin Steele, R-Dade City, designates a road on each Florida college and university campus to be renamed “Charlie James Kirk Drive” within 90 days of the bill’s passage. If a school’s board of trustees does not comply, “state funds shall be withheld,” according to the bill text.
Kirk, a right-wing podcaster and political activist, was shot to death while sitting and talking at an event at a Utah university in September. His death sparked strong responses nationwide, with some mourning the charismatic activist who galvanized many young people, and others resurfacing and denouncing Kirk’s comments they disliked — commentary that led to firings of some teachers and professors.
At the University of Central Florida, Gemini Boulevard, which goes through the south end of campus near the school’s welcome center and recreation center, would be renamed.
At the University of Florida, Stadium Road, which runs through the heart of campus near the school’s football and basketball stadiums, would be renamed. And at Florida State University, Chieftan Way, a road cutting through the north end of campus to the school’s football stadium, would be renamed.
Steele said in an interview with the Orlando Sentinel that he filed the bill Tuesday because he thought Kirk was “inspirational.”
“He stood on the American principle of conversation and allowing everybody to voice their opinion respectfully. And he proved and reminded us that courage is not noise, it’s conviction,” Steele said.
He said he focused on roads at universities, since Kirk often toured college campuses to speak with students. He selected specific roads because of their prime location on campuses.
One Florida university has already taken steps to memorialize Kirk. New College of Florida in Sarasota announced on Sept. 16 the school would be erecting a statue of Kirk on its campus.
In Lake County, the board of county commissioners last month designated Schofield Road as “Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway.”
Florida’s Legislature convenes for its session starting in January.
