OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — An Oklahoma Republican Senator has introduced a bill that would require public universities in the state to have a memorial plaza dedicated to the late Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist who was shot and killed on September 10th at the Utah Valley University campus in Orem, Utah.
Senate Bill 1187, introduced by Senator Shane Jett, R-Shawnee, on Wednesday, states that the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education establish on its campus a dedicated square or plaza and will be designated as the “Charlie Kirk Memorial Plaza”. The bill states it is to “remind all to foster an environment of intellectual freedom, civic engagement, and the principles Kirk championed, ensuring that future generations remember his courage, faith, sacrifice, and contributions to American liberty.”
The bill instructs each institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education to build the plaza in a prominent area on its main campus. It should be located in a “highly visible and easily accessible location, such as near the central quad, student union, or main entrance pathways.”
The governing board of each institution is instructed to submit a detailed plan to the Legislature no later than March 1, 2027. The plan should include the proposed location, size, design elements, and projected timeline for completion. The Legislature would then review and approve, through a resolution, the location and size of each plaza. They can also issue modifications through resolution.
The bill goes on to state that for the square or plaza to have a permanent sign “commemorating Charlie Kirk’s courage and faith and explaining the significance of Charlie Kirk as a voice of a generation, modern civil rights leader, vocal Christian, martyr for truth and faith, and free speech advocate.” It should also include a statue of Kirk sitting at a table with an empty chair across from him or a statue of him with his wife, Erika Kirk, standing holding their children in their arms as a central part of the plaza.
Public universities would be authorized to accept donations from the National Endowment for the Arts and any private, corporate, or public source to fund the development and maintenance of the plaza. Private institutions would be allowed to apply for grant funds to build memorial plazas on their campuses as well.
The bill states that each institution should complete the “Charlie Kirk Memorial Plaza” no later than March 1, 2028, and that failure to meet the deadline “shall result in a punitive fine of one percent (1%) of the institution of higher education’s appropriated budget for each month of noncompliance.” The fines would be placed in the General Revenue Fund. The deadline can be extended by concurrent resolution if campuses have started but not yet completed construction.
If a student, employee, of faculty member of the college vandalizes the plaza or statue, the bill states they would be expelled or fired from the college and could face monetary fines to cover the cost of repairs.
The Oklahoma Democratic Vice Chair Erin Brewer released the following statement regarding the proposed bill:
“Oklahoma Democrats would rather make investments that prevent violence. Where has Sen. Jett been as our Mental Health Department lost and wasted millions and cut services to thousands of Oklahomans? Why did he vote ‘No’ on a tax exemption for Oklahomans who purchase gun safes? We’re serious about safety while Sen. Jett is focused on showmanship.”
You can read the full bill here.
