A billboard in Asheville, North Carolina, honoring the late conservative commentator and activist Charlie Kirk has been vandalized, causing a huge uproar on social media. Pictures of the supposedly damaged billboard that were posted online show white spray paint covering up the original dedication.
On September 10, on the first leg of his planned “American Comeback Tour,” Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed at Utah State University in Orem, Utah. The sentence “The blood of the martyr is the seed of the church” was on the Asheville billboard that was put up after his death.
The people who are accused of vandalism spray-painted over the message with the words “Smash fascism, stand up, fight back.” (Note: It was not possible to independently confirm the photographs’ validity or the vandalism itself.)
People on social media are upset over vandalism and Kirk’s legacy.
The message on X (previously Twitter) went viral and sparked a wide-ranging and heated discussion regarding political division and prominent figures.
Some users were shocked and upset by the graffiti. One person said, “I can’t believe this would have happened here in Asheville, NC.” Another commenter soon responded by talking about Asheville’s reputation, noting, “Ashville has long been known as the San Francisco of the east.” Another person complained about how the local politics had changed, saying that “violent white progressive gangs” had taken over the area from the “peaceful mountain folks.”
But some people used the dispute to show how divisive Kirk’s work is: “No one should damage property, but let’s not be surprised that a public figure like Charlie Kirk gets strong reactions.” He used lies, discord, and mockery to build his platform. You may like him, but millions regard him as someone who makes money off of anger. Both opinions are true, and saying otherwise is not true.
Charlie’s Death Kirk
Tyler James Robinson, 22, from Utah, was arrested after Kirk was shot and killed. After Kirk died, his wife Erika gave a speech next to his empty podcast chair, promising to carry on his work. She said, “The movement my husband built will not die—I won’t let that happen.” This confirmed that Turning Point USA would continue its university tour even if the tragedy had happened.
What does the quick politicization and damage of this memorial billboard say about how people talk about politics in the US right now?