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A two-mile stretch of roadway in North Texas will soon be named after late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, per the Dallas Morning News.
On Tuesday (January 13), Hood County commissioners issued a proclamation to dedicate Williamson Road, just south of Grandbury, to Kirk, who was fatally shot in September while speaking at a university in Utah. A dedication ceremony for the newly dubbed Charlie Kirk Memorial Parkway is scheduled for next month.
The proclamation describes Kirk, who grew up in a Chicago suburb, as “a steadfast voice for moral clarity and truth in public discourse” and says he leaves “behind a legacy of bold leadership, passionate advocacy, and unwavering commitment to the ideals that define the American spirit.” It adds that the roadway will help ensure his legacy “continues to inspire future generations.”
Kirk, 31, founded Turning Point USA as a teenager and became known for mobilizing young conservatives and for being a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump. Following his death, Trump declared a National Day of Remembrance for Kirk, and communities from California to Florida have renamed roads in his honor.
Tuesday's move marks the first time a Texas roadway has been dedicated to Kirk, although petitions for similar dedications have circulated elsewhere in the state. Texas Rep. Jeff Leach has pledged that his first bill in the next legislative session will propose a statue of Kirk at the state Capitol in Austin. Leach called Kirk “a civil rights icon…he should be honored and recognized accordingly.”
Adrienne Martin, chair of the Hood County Democratic Party, called the parkway naming a “publicity stunt” and said residents are more concerned about “incoming data centers, infrastructure needs, and the cost of living.”
Hood County Judge Ron Massingill declined to comment on the upcoming dedication ceremony.
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