Protests Erupt Over Charlie Kirk Memorial at Utah Valley University
Orem, Utah — The Student Democratic Association recently staged a protest at Utah Valley University (UVU) against the proposed monument for Charlie Kirk, who was tragically killed during an event at the university on September 10th.
In the wake of Kirk’s murder, which drew significant attention, UVU decided to create a memorial in his honor. A committee was formed to coordinate the memorial, including members from the university, the Utah Higher Education Commission, students, political figures, and other involved parties.
Levi Colby, a student at UVU who took part in the protest, expressed his hope for solidarity on campus, stating, “We do not support violence at UVU. I think I can speak for the entire student body when I say we don’t want violence on campus. As part of that, we want the opposite. We want unity, we want kindness, we want friendship, we want to show each other that we’re here for each other.”
However, Colby also voiced concerns about commemorating Kirk. He said, “The concern with this memorial is that it’s celebrating Charlie Kirk; it’s not celebrating unity. We want to celebrate students coming together during this time of tragedy. Frankly, we don’t want to celebrate someone who is so racist and bigoted.”
Colby mentioned that while the protesters aren’t in favor of a monument dedicated to Kirk himself, they would support a tribute reflecting how the community united following his murder. “I think the Charlie Kirk monument will be a monument to hatred,” he concluded.
When the monument plans were announced, an array of petitions emerged. One petition in support of the memorial has garnered over 21,000 signatures, while another opposing it has collected more than 15,000 signatures.
Supporters of the memorial argue it represents a path to healing after Kirk’s “politically motivated” murder, serving as a reminder of the value of open dialogue and peaceful discussion within the community. In contrast, the opposing petition highlights Kirk’s “divisive rhetoric” and critiques his organization, Turning Point USA, for alleged messages considered homophobic, transphobic, and racist.
“UVU is proud to be a diverse and inclusive institution that fosters an environment of learning and growth for all students, regardless of their background,” the opposing petition states. “Erecting a monument to Charlie Kirk undermines these core values and has the potential to marginalize students who represent different political, racial, and cultural backgrounds.”
