Residents of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk’s hometown of Arlington Heights, Illinois, have asked that the district in which he grew up pay tribute to the conservative activist and influencer by approving new chapters of his political organization.Â
Concerned parents, alumni parents and students requested that the Board of Education in Township High School District 214 highlight Kirk as a notable alumnus at Wheeling High School where he attended, establish a day to honor him and approve Turning Point USA chapters across the district.Â
“These accomplishments [are] beyond what a typical student can simultaneously achieve,” residents wrote in a petition that was created Sep. 12. “Yet, prior to this heartbreaking event, Charlie’s extraordinary achievements went largely unacknowledged by our district. It was only after his death that an official statement recognized his existence. This moment compels us to act—not out of division, but to heal, honor excellence, and ensure every voice in our diverse community feels seen and valued.”
The petition so far has 2,618 verified signatures.Â
Tyler Robinson was arrested for Kirk’s murder last week and is expected to be charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, and obstruction of justice. Reports say his “roomate and romantic partner” has been cooperating with authorities.
Kirk was one of the most influential voices on the right in recent years, notably founding Turning Point USA, with chapters at universities across the country and hosting speakers’ summits for young conservatives. CNN reported that Kirk’s primary YouTube channel now has 4.5 million subscribers, up from 3.8 million before he was killed.Â
A grieving community speaks up for Kirk
Residents of Township High School District 214 last week also spoke at a school board meeting where they presented their requests verbally. One speaker at the board meeting, Renee Schlenhardt, said that the District should honor Kirk publicly as he is to receive the Medal of Freedom from President Donald Trump.
“This is the highest honor anyone can receive in the nation,” Schlenhardt said when she addressed the board. “The District needs to honor this achievement in a public appropriate fashion. I request a district-wide day to honor him be held in conjunction with the award.”
She also asked that requests to start Turning Point USA chapters throughout the district should be approved.Â
“After all, a key tenet of Turning Point is free speech,” Schlenhardt said. “Shouldn’t that be encouraged by all educators?” she asked rhetorically. Schlenhardt told Just the News in a phone interview that in the past the district had rejected requests to start Turning Point USA chapters.Â
Another resident, John Saletta, requested that a plaque with Kirk’s name on it be restored to the District’s wall of notable alumni as it was taken down.Â
“I’m shocked that Charlie Kirk’s plaque would be removed from the wall of notable alumni,” Saletta said during his address to the education board. “It apparently happened in the middle of the night, as these things tend to happen quietly without anybody noticing. It’s frankly shameful.”
Bipartisan expressions of support and loss
The petition put together by the residents said that honoring Kirk could be a step forward in bipartisan healing. Journal and Topics, a local news outlet in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, reported that at least two local elected officials in the Democratic stronghold of Cook County, Illinois, issued statements in remembrance of Kirk.Â
State Sen. Mark Walker, who is also the Wheeling Township’s Democratic Committeeman said, “Charlie Kirk grew up in my district, and I am sad to hear that he has been shot,” State Sen. Mark Walker said in a written statement. “Charlie has been fighting for his vision for a better America for years and is living his dream as a political influencer. This should not happen in our country.”Â
U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., told the outlet that “In this country, political violence must be unacceptable in every form, and we must stand together to reject it. If violence replaces dialogue, none of us are safe.”
The school board, sitting in an area that overwhelmingly supported Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, issued a statement saying that “Charlie Kirk will be remembered in District 214 and at Wheeling High School as a student who brought energy, confidence, and passion to the classroom and beyond […] He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, a recognition that reflected his commitment to leadership and service.”
“Even as a teenager,” the District added, “Charlie was known for his drive, his willingness to speak up, and his ability to inspire spirited conversation among his peers. He cared deeply about issues that mattered to him, whether organizing classmates in response to changes at school or writing about the world around him. His time at Wheeling was marked by the qualities of curiosity, conviction, and determination — traits that would continue to shape his path long after graduation.”
