OCALA, FL (352today.com) – A proclamation by the Marion County Board of County Commissioners Oct. 7, 2025, to name a thoroughfare after a conservative political activist, drew mixed reactions at the county commission meeting Tuesday morning.

A Proclamation for a Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated while on stage at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025, was made by the Marion County Commission who presented it to Ellary Belote, president of the Marion County Young Republicans, who made the request for the proclamation.

Marion County Commission Vice Chair Carl Zalak, III paid homage to Kirk, acknowledging that the county commission was paying remembrance to a legacy, that Kirk stood for his faith, and could move a nation by having open thought, discussion, freedom and all of the great things the country believes in.

“We’re celebrating not necessarily because of the person, but the idea of America, and what it holds in liberty, we celebrate today,” said Zalak. “On behalf of the Marion County Young Republicans and a new generation of thought leaders. We present this to you. Charlie Kirk will be remembered for his dedication to faith, family and country and the belief that ideas freely exchanged have the power to create positive change leaving a legacy that calls us to carry forward the values that strengthen our nation.”

Charlie Kirk avowedly devoted his life to citizen engagement and the open exchange of ideas, but not everyone who was in the audience held the same opinion, and some shared their thoughts during the public comments portion of the meeting.

Longtime Marion County resident J.D. Elliott, who is a military veteran and man of faith, is active in the Marion County Public Schools system because one of his two daughters is a former P.T.A. president and serves as a mentor in the system and for a veterans’ organization. He expressed his thoughts to the commission.

“I was alarmed when you had made a proclamation that was lifting up Charlie Kirk,” said Elliott. “Moreover, what we’re talking about is, a long-term stain on our county by naming some public thoroughfare after him. After we’re discovering more about his legacy, we can understand that he was a racist, a bigot, a homophobe, and he did not represent Christian values. I was always taught that Christianity means empathy. Jesus preached empathy, but yet Charlie Kirk decried empathy.”

Others reiterated that the co-founder of Turning Point USA was a steadfast advocate for the founding principles of freedom, respectful dialog, the protection of free speech, as well the creation of safe environments where different opinions could actually be shared without the fear of harassment and violence.

“I’d like to thank you for having the courage to do what you did,” said Bob Schmidt, Ocala. “If anybody had ever gone to a Turning Point USA event, or had been part of Turning Point USA Faith, you would know who the real Charlie Kirk is. I want to thank you for that because it represents all that’s good in this country, not a theme, not at the expense of somebody else. He lifted everybody up. It didn’t matter. if you had ever been to a Turning Point event, you would see the diversity of the people that he was reaching, the youth. I would like to thank you for being the county commissioners you are and for having the strength to so something like this.”

Rev. Reginal Willis, Sr. serves in several capacities community-wide and is known for his leadership and for his service as a military veteran. He voiced his displeasure and disdain for the proclamation that was made by the Marion County Board of County Commissioners.

“Prior to Sept. 10, I knew very little about Charlie Kirk,” said Willis. “Not a blip on my radar screen, and mostly I understand why. When I had to do some research to what this man was promoting, a foul taste entered into my mouth. As a person of the gospel, [he was] far from it. If he says he knows Jesus, I’m trying to figure out which Jesus it is… I’m standing here because I couldn’t let it go into that gentle night and sit quietly. I hear there’s a road supposed to be dedicated in his honor, the nerve, how appalling Marion County.”