Charlie Kirk Boulevard? Manatee leaders move to name road after political activist

Manatee County leaders approved a plan to name a road after controversial political activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated last month.

Commissioner Jason Bearden brought the idea forward at a board meeting on Tuesday. He called to immediately rename a major road like Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, Upper Manatee River Road, 75th Street or Moccasin Wallow Road to “Charlie Kirk Boulevard.”

“Today, we’re talking about a man who will be in our history books, such as people like Martin Luther King Jr.,” Bearden said to open the discussion, reading from a prepared statement that went on for several minutes.

Manatee officials push for Kirk tribute

“This vote is an opportunity to send a message,” Bearden added later in his statement. “Not a political message, but a community message. That we believe in connection over isolation, conversation over silence and understanding over division.”

But after discussion, commissioners voted to create a memorial highway in honor of Kirk rather than change the name of a major road. The board also decided to consider a future road for the designation rather than an existing one.

They chose an unbuilt section of 51st Street West, planned to run north-south between 53rd Avenue West and El Conquistador Parkway in the Bradenton area.

During their discussion, several commissioners praised Kirk and said they wanted to do something to recognize him in Manatee County.

“Charlie Kirk stood for something important in our community and throughout our country, which is open dialogue (and) freedom of speech, and I think we need to remember that,” Commissioner Amanda Ballard said.

Ballard cited Kirk’s connection to the area through a condo he owned on Longboat Key.

“Charlie Kirk was a great man, there’s no doubt about it,” Commissioner Mike Rahn said. “He wasn’t a divider, he was a uniter.”

Mixed opinions on activist’s legacy

But public discourse over Kirk’s death, as well as public comment on Bearden’s proposal, show that public opinion is far from unanimous about whether Kirk was a positive influence in U.S. culture.

A recent YouGov poll found that a majority of Americans are opposed to most memorials in Kirk’s honor, such as renamed highways, commemorative coins and official holidays.

Kirk was considered a prominent voice of the MAGA movement who helped President Donald Trump win reelection, but critics have slammed the activist for promoting what they view as hateful and divisive rhetoric that disparaged minorities while helping to popularize conspiracy theories and pushing youth toward far-right political ideology.

While no one on the board criticized Kirk on Tuesday, some commissioners acknowledged that a tribute to Kirk might not be popular with all residents and called for more discussion.

“I don’t care about the names of roads,” Commissioner George Kruse said. “That’s not why I’m up here, to rename roads. I’ll support the motion to get started, I would just make sure that we’re aware that we’re renaming roads for the entirety of the community ... people may have comments.”

“There are many people here in Manatee County that should be involved in this process,” Commissioner Bob McCann said. “I’m not saying that I’m against this, I’m just saying I want to involve all the people in this.”

“I think the important thing is we have public input,” Commissioner Tal Siddique said. “There are some people that are going to be very proud and want to see this in their community.”

However, Bearden opposed the idea of having public hearings on the subject.

“I don’t think we’re going to get anything accomplished doing that, because you’re going to have people that are on both sides that are going to have (difference) of opinions,” Bearden said.

After more debate, Siddique suggested creating a memorial roadway for Kirk instead of renaming a road because of the extensive costs involved with changing signage and addresses.

Memorial highways pay tribute to an individual with signs posted along a section of a road. However, the road retains its original name for addresses, street signs and official purposes.

Recent local examples include a state-designated memorial highway to U.S. Army Specialist Nicholas Panipinto along a portion of U.S. 19 in Palmetto and a memorial roundabout to two Lakewood Ranch teenagers killed in a 2018 car crash.

“It does the same thing you’re trying to do. It does the same honor and respect. It costs the county virtually nothing,” said Kruse, who supported the idea. “You’re not going to have homeowners and business owners coming in and complaining about having to make modifications.”

Bradenton-area residents react to Kirk tribute

Public comments on the possible local tribute to Kirk were mixed.

Ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, one resident wrote that she would rather see Manatee County veterans honored.

“I hope that, before considering other names, the commissioners will prioritize honoring local Manatee County military heroes when discussing road name changes,” Diana Adams wrote.

Others strongly opposed the idea.

“We have better things to spend our tax dollars on. I don’t want my tax dollars spent on memorializing a divisive figure who spread hate,” Shannon Keever wrote.

“We deplore violence as a political tool and are heartbroken for Charlie Kirk’s family. Assassination has no place in a civilized society,” wrote Bradenton resident Bob Cusick. “But when considering who deserves a memorial, and while debating Charlie Kirk’s worthiness, consider he is the man who said these things.”

Cusick enclosed a list of controversial statements made by Kirk, including instances where Kirk questioned the qualifications of Black airline pilots and made remarks opposing women’s rights and the separation of church and state.

“Clearly, none of these statements reflect those of a kind, caring human being, nor one who truly respects the Constitution of the United States and its Amendments,” Cusick wrote. “Perhaps we can find a more suitable candidate or simply focus on our local community’s needs and heroes.”

“I think the best way that we can definitely honor Charlie Kirk is moving forward with ... open dialogue,” said Bradenton resident Keith Green. “At the end of the day, if we don’t talk to each other, how are we supposed to learn from each other?”

“Charlie Kirk is a martyr and a hero as far as I’m concerned,” Glen Gibellina said in support of the road-naming tribute. “And we should honor him just like any other person that made such an impact on our young people.”

Charlie Kirk tribute event planned

Conservative political groups have held several local tributes to Kirk since his assassination, including an event hosted by Sarasota-Bradenton Young Republicans, Pinellas County Young Republicans and Tampa Bay Young Republicans last month at G.T. Bray Park.

The Republican Party of Sarasota County plans to hold another tribute to Kirk at Robarts Arena, 3000 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18.

New College of Florida is also planning to install a privately-funded statue of Kirk on the public liberal arts school’s campus.

“We are doing a monument to Charlie Kirk, which will be pretty cool when it gets built,” said Rahn, who sits on the New College Foundation Board of Directors.

What happens next?

After discussion, the board voted 7-0 to have staff come back with a resolution to establish the memorial highway named after Kirk.

There will be a public hearing at a future date before the board takes a final vote on the issue.

This story was originally published October 8, 2025 at 12:00 PM.