A Tennessee legislator has introduced a bill that would require every public university in the state to create a “Charlie Kirk Memorial Courtyard for Civil Debate.”
Further, the bill would require such courtyards to measure at least 40 feet by 40 feet and include display the Declaration of Rights in Article I of the Tennessee Constitution on the northern side of the courtyard, the Ten Commandments on the southern side, the U.S. Bill of Rights on the eastern side, and the U.S. Declaration of Independence on the western side.
The purpose of the courtyards would be “to remind students, faculty, staff and visitors of the value of civil discourse and to encourage those who visit the courtyard to exchange differing ideas and opinions with civility and respect,” the bill explains.
Kirk was known for his visits to campuses — like the one where he was assassinated in Utah — where he staged “debates” about political and theological issues his supporters claim were healthy dialogue and his detractors claim were rhetorical bullying. Critics also point to Kirk’s disparaging comments about Black people and women, in particular.
Mark Pody
The bill is sponsored by Sen. Mark Pody, a Republican from Lebanon, Tenn. who told News 2 he was approached by a member of the House about the idea.
“I think (they) were inspired by saying, ‘We’ve got to stop yelling at each other, and we’ve got to go back to campuses where we can have dialogue,’” Pody said. “People can just sit down in a safe spot and talk, even if they don’t agree, how can they have those conversations? And Charlie Kirk is one individual that’s been doing that for the last few years.”
The language of the bill calls Kirk’s murder “a tragedy” and claims “the media commentary and social media posts following Charlie Kirk’s assassination condoning, and even applauding, the use of criminal violence against those with whom they disagree politically abhorrent.”
The concept of public expression to be facilitated in these courtyards “is based upon the Roman Republic’s idea of civils, a code of conduct related to ‘public life, befitting a citizen,’ from which we derive the word ‘civics,’ for the study of civil and political rights and obligations, as well as the word ‘civility,’ for formal politeness and courtesy in behavior or speech,” the bill states.
In Texas, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has pledged $1 million in campaign funds to put a Turning Point USA chapter on every college and high school campus in the state. Patrick and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have said they intend to speak at state events for the conservative group founded by Charlie Kirk.