This month, news of activist Charlie Kirk’s death swept the nation. The conservative media personality was shot and killed on Sept. 10 while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University, and within hours, videos, stories and personal opinions were circulating wildly in the news and on social media from coast to coast. 

On Sept. 16, a resolution honoring Kirk’s life and legacy and condemning political violence was brought before the St. Louis County Council. The resolution was sponsored by District 7 Councilman Mark Harder (R-Ballwin).

“The Council condemns the assassination of Charlie Kirk in the strongest possible terms as a cowardly act of violence against the principles of free speech and civil debate,” the resolution stated. 

In another section, it stated, “The council honors Charlie Kirk’s life and legacy, recognizing his unwavering commitment to constitutional principles, his leadership in empowering young Americans, and his dedication to fostering civil discourse across the nation.”

The resolution failed 5-2. Voting in favor of the resolution were Harder and District 6 Councilman Mike Archer (R-Oakville). Notably, the third Republican councilman, Dennis Hancock (R-Fenton) of District 3, voted in opposition to the resolution. 

“There are people in our community that feel marginalized by what he said, or people have been offended by what he said, or feel there are things he shouldn’t have said because they were hurtful,” Hancock said. “I can’t support that. I wouldn’t support it if it was anybody. That’s not what we should be about.”

Hancock said that, while he believed the resolution was well-intentioned, he could not support it in good faith. 

The council heard a wealth of public comment regarding this resolution, and District 5 Councilwoman Lisa Clancy (D-Maplewood) said that emails flooded in before and during the council meeting. 

The five council members who opposed the resolution openly condemned the act of political violence against Kirk and sent their sympathies to his family, loved ones and supporters. The overarching sentiment about the resolution was that these council members would not stand behind Kirk’s ideas and “honor” his legacy, specifically calling out his past comments about DEI and the LGBTQ+ community. 

“His life should not have ended the way it did,” Clancy said. “He had every right to speak freely the way he did, even though many of us vehemently disagreed with his words. But recognizing someone’s right to free speech is not the same as honoring the substance of what they said.”

Hancock, as well as Council Chairwoman Rita Heard Days of District 1, highlighted the desire for unity within the St. Louis County Council as they work together to represent all of their constituents.