Commission denounces library board's Charlie Kirk vote

By John Labriola - Citrus County Commissioners last week denounced the Library Advisory Board's recent decision to reject a temporary Charlie Kirk book display, saying its rationale for not allowing it made no sense. 

"I don't even know what the problem is. This is a historical figure, whether people agreed or didn't agree with the things he said or did," said Commissioner Diana Finegan. "I think it would be more than appropriate to have displays of his books." 

Finegan rejected comparisons to the LGBT Pride propaganda displays, which the library system canceled in 2022, as "apples and oranges."

"We're talking about a sexual orientation versus someone that has been deemed as an American hero with a holiday," she said, referring to President Donald Trump's designation of Oct. 14 as the National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk. "I hope to see that display. If I find out that's something the library cannot do, I'd be more than willing to put that as an agenda item."

Kirk, a Christian conservative icon and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was assassinated on Sept. 10 by a leftist during a Q & A with students at a Utah university campus.

Last month, the Library Advisory Board (LAB) voted 5-2 to reject a motion by LAB member Rhys Campbell to have a temporary display of books written or recommended by Kirk in the libraries. The decision came after a group of angry leftists slandered Kirk as a "racist," said he deserved to be assassinated, and disrupted the meeting by shouting obscenities. LAB Chairman Justin Strickland recused himself from the vote after telling his colleagues to vote against the motion because Kirk was "political," ignoring the fact that the libraries display many books by or about political figures during Black History Month and Women's History Month. 

Finegan, who watched much of the LAB meeting video and said she was disturbed by the behavior of leftists at the meeting, added that Strickland's decision to recuse himself was "sad" and "didn't make sense." Commissioner Rebecca Bays agreed.

Several residents, angered by the LAB's decision, urged commissioners last week to not only allow a book display for Charlie Kirk but to name a county road after him, as Lake, Marion and Collier counties have done. 

"It's my firm belief that if Charlie was of a different political party or had a different ideology, we wouldn't be here discussing whether or not he should get a book display," said Chris Justin of Inverness, who was one of 10 residents who spoke out against the LAB's decision.

Justin, who is black, rejected the idea that Kirk was a "racist."

"I've seen countless hours of his content. He's the furthest thing from a racist. Those comments were demonstrably false," he said. "As one of the most conservative counties in Florida, Citrus County should be proud to recognize Charlie Kirk. The least we can do is honor him with a temporary book display and a road, and to remember him not as others have tried to paint him, but as he truly was: a man who stood boldly for Christianity, patriotism and freedom of speech. He gave his voice, his time, and ultimately his life to defend those values, and his impact will last on this nation for generations."

Ray Brown of Homosassa attributed the LAB's decision to cowardice.

"They have no backbone to support conservative groups. They're afraid of what the left might do to them," Brown said. "They're running scared from a group that supports destroying property and the killings of others to get their way."

Commissioner Janet Barek agreed that the LAB's decision should be overriden. Having lived through the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., she said she has witnessed displays for all of them.

Commissioner Jeff Kinnard said he also would not be opposed to having a temporary display of Charlie Kirk books in the libraries, adding the commission shoud create a policy for displays going forward. Commissioner Holly Davis agreed.

Only Commissioner Bays said she did not favor a Charlie Kirk book display, preferring the libraries to be completely neutral, but added she would support naming a road after Kirk.

"Frankly I wouldn't mind living on the Charlie Kirk road," she said.

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