Sumner County Schools is honoring conservative political influencer Charlie Kirk after board members recently passing a resolution to declare Oct. 14, Kirk’s birthday, as the Charlie Kirk Day of Peaceful Discourse.
Sumner County Commissioner Jeremy Mansfield has also suggested changing the name of a road next to Liberty Creek High School to Charlie Kirk Way to further honor the political influencer.
While Mansfield says he has received positive feedback about the resolution for Charlie Kirk Day, some have taken to his social media post to question the decision to honor Kirk.
Gallatin resident Leann Smith posted a response Sept. 25, asking “what does Charlie Kirk have to do with Sumner County,” while another poster said they may “have a sick day.”
Charlie Kirk’s Middle Tennessee legacy
While Charlie Kirk Day drew the ire of some local residents, others seemed to be on board with the resolution. One poster said, “this is amazing,” while another insisted that neighboring Robertson County needed to be next.
The Sumner County Board of Education passed its resolution without public input.
School board member Andy Lacy, who said during the board’s Sept. 23 meeting that he drafted the resolution, called Kirk a “great man” and “incredible person.”
“His life was taken way too soon,” Lacy said.
A request seeking additional comment from Lacy on his resolution was not immediately returned.
Kirk, 31, was fatally shot during a visit at Utah Valley University during his “The American Comeback tour” with Turning Point USA.
Kirk had limited ties to Middle Tennessee; some were controversial, including his response to the Covenant School shooting in March 2023, when three children and three faculty members were killed.
In the wake of the school shooting, Kirk made comments saying gun violence is necessary to keep the Second Amendment so that one can defend themselves against a tyrannical government.
“I think it’s worth it,” Kirk said, responding to a question about a recent shooting at a Turning Point USA Faith event April 5, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. “I think it’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights.”
Before his death, Kirk was scheduled to appear in Murfreesboro at World Outreach Church’s Culture & Christianity Conference Sept. 19-20.
‘Have we ever done anything like this’
Board member Meghan Breining shared concerns about moving too quickly to honor Kirk.
“It is always evil and wrong when someone is murdered, particularly for their words,” Breining said over the phone. “But I’m curious, just from a historical perspective, having not been on the board very long, have we ever done anything like this in the past, to honor someone’s life who was cut short? Just at all. Ever?”
While no specific answer was given, the district said resolutions honoring Sumner County residents have been previously passed.
Lacy responded to Breining, saying Kirk was “not just someone” and called the political influencer a martyr for his faith.
“He was a very popular political figure. If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t have the president (Donald Trump) we have now in the White House,” Lacy said. “He was just an absolutely amazing human being that loved everybody.”
While Lacy said anyone’s murder is unfortunate, he called Kirk’s slaying “extraordinary.”
Board member Steven King said Kirk’s political assassination was the first in 50 years, according to a political pundit.
On June 14, Minnesota Democrat Rep. Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark and their golden retriever were all fatally shot in their home in what officials called a political assassination.
“There’s been school shootings and things like that but this was a political assassination,” King said.
Minutes later, as the board was discussing the resolution, King said he would be willing to do a resolution or proclamation honoring school shooting victims.
As the resolution was discussed, King suggested the board read the resolution to the public in attendance. The public was not allowed to ask questions or make comments on the resolution.
Board member Wade Evans asked how the district should instruct its teachers to provide answers to parents and students when asked about the day. He also suggested removing a portion of an amended resolution to have the day celebrated each year on Oct. 14 and instead have the resolution say Oct. 14, 2025, as state and local officials consider legislation on the day moving forward.
King said other districts have said in their resolutions the day would receive grade-level appropriate instruction of these “unalienable rights and core values of American life” on the first amendment.
Vice chair Tammy Hayes likened Kirk’s shooting to Martin Luther King Jr.’s slaying and said each year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, teachers recognize King’s assassination in the regular curriculum.
Breining said the board pushed the resolution through so fast members of the community were not able to weigh in on the decision to honor Kirk.
“I think if we honor the (Oct.) 14 that’s coming up and then choose to be deliberate and intentional and hear from our constituents on what we want to do moving forward, I think that gives them an opportunity to speak. I think it gives them an opportunity to be heard, to participate in the conversation around free speech and political violence and how our students and teachers want to be represented,” Breining said.
Her suggestion failed to gain traction.
Board member Andy Daniels said one of the problems in society today is the lack of civil discourse, acknowledging the board has had contentious and personal debates in recent years.
Daniels said he believes that the lack of discourse trickles down from parents to children.
“I think that we, as a board, should use this as an opportunity to promote the ideals of what it means to represent the community, to disagree civilly with each other and to respect each other’s views, regardless of whether we believe in them or not,” Daniels said.
After about 30 minutes of discussion, the motion passed unanimously.
How else could Sumner County honor Charlie Kirk
Mansfield said renaming Wolfpack Way to Charlie Kirk Way was a suggestion to honor the conservative influencer.
“I think it will be a homage, I know that’ll be happening all over the nation,” Mansfield said during the Sept. 15 commission meeting. “I just wanted to throw that out there that I think it will be a great idea.
In an emailed statement to The Tennessean on Sept. 25, Mansfield said there is no proposal, no motion and no plan before the commission to rename the road.
“My intent was to honor Charlie Kirk at Liberty Creek because of his lifelong work for liberty, faith, and free speech, and because the site itself carries deep ties to Revolutionary War hero Colonel Jonathan Latimer. Connecting Liberty Creek with both a patriot of the Revolution and a modern defender of freedom would remind future generations of the importance of conviction, courage, and America’s founding principles,” the statement read.
Mansfield also noted there is community support to rename another road after Kirk in the county. He did not specify which road or how many people are in support of the decision.
Liberty Creek High School Principal Phillip Holt does not share the same enthusiasm as Mansfield when it comes to renaming Wolfpack Way.
In a letter sent to parents, Holt asked them to voice their opinion about a possible road name change.
“I respectfully request that the Commission reconsider this proposal and seek a different road to honor Charlie Kirk, with input from Sumner County citizens,” Holt said. He continued, saying Wolfpack Way is more than a road name tied to the school’s mascot. He said the Wolfpack Way is a set of principles that defines the school, uniting students, staff and families.
“Liberty Creek started from scratch, with no history, traditions, or pre-existing community. Wolfpack Way has become a symbol of our identity and pride, representing the community we’ve built together,” Holt said.
Reach reporter Craig Shoup by email at cshoup@gannett.com and on X @Craig_Shoup. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to www.tennessean.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Sumner County officials OK Charlie Kirk Day, consider Charlie Kirk Way