Commission decides to honor Charlie Kirk



By John Labriola - Citrus County will join a number of other communities in Florida in proclaiming Oct. 14 as the Charlie Kirk Day of Remembrance in honor of his birthday. 

The decision to honor the slain Christian conservative icon came at the Citrus County Commission's Sept. 8 meeting, nearly a year after Kirk was assassinated on Sept. 10, 2025. 

The anniversary prompted several residents to urge the commission to approve a library display for Kirk following an 8-1 vote last month by the Library Advisory Board (LAB) to reject one. The LAB's vote came two days after the commission adopted a library display policy that banned political displays but that Commission Chairwoman Diana Finegan said would allow a display of books by Charlie Kirk as a "historical" figure.

"The man deserves something in the library," said Ray Kalavsky of Inverness, noting that while rejecting a Charlie Kirk display, the LAB also supported continuing a Martin Luther King display, which Library Director Adam Chang said would be allowed. "To me, they are the same. The only difference between him and Martin Luther King is that he was white and Martin Luther [King] was black."

Jennifer Grogan, who ran unsuccessfully for county commission this year, said Kirk deserves the same respect the commission gave at the same meeting to former Commissioner Dennis Damato by voting to rename a government building after him. 

Longtime resident Joe Papp said a decision to honor Kirk with a library display would serve as a barometer of county leaders' respect for the community's Christian conservative majority.

But commissioners declined to consider a library display for Kirk. Instead, Finegan asked staff to prepare a proclamation declaring Oct. 14 the Charlie Kirk Day of Remembrance, as President Donald Trump did last year. Finegan asked if other commissioners agreed, and none objected. The proclamation will be presented at the commission's Oct. 13 meeting.

Other Florida counties that have decided to honor Kirk with a Day of Remembrance include Sumter, Lake, Hernando, Flagler, Gilchrist and Jefferson. Counties that have named roads after Kirk include Sumter, Lake, Hernando, Marion, Collier, Manatee and Walton. Several counties also have agreed to set up library displays of Kirk's books in October.

Last week also marked the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 Islamic terrorist attacks. The City of Inverness held a ceremony honoring the many lives lost that day.

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