Speak Up: Arizona legislator seeks to name Loop 202 after Charlie Kirk

Metro Creative Connection

Tell Us What You Think

We’d like to invite readers to write us at yourvalley.net/letters or AzOpinions@iniusa.org to share your thoughts on the proposal to rename a portion of Loop 202 after Charlie Kirk. Please limit your letter to 300 words or less, and include your name, city and contact number in your email.

We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines, which can be found at yourvalley.net/civility-checklist.

Journalist Howard Fischer’s report that the president of the Arizona Senate wants to wants to rename a portion of the Loop 202 freeway for assassinated Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk continues to spark comments from Independent readers, who both agree and disagree with state Sen. Warren Petersen, who said about the Illinois native when proposing the renaming: “Charlie Kirk is a son of Arizona who embodied the very fabric of our founding fathers when they crafted the Bill of Rights.” 

• “I am wholly against renaming 202 for Mr. Kirk. He was not a hero; he did not fight for moral or ethical issues; he did not work toward unity, compassion or greater understanding of people; and he was not a first responder who lost his life saving others. There are plenty of police officers, firemen, nurses, doctors, that qualify for that level of recognition.” — Mariana Van Meter via email
• “I do not want the 202 named after Charlie Kirk. I would refuse to drive on it if you do that. Naming it for a person is not a good idea.” — Julianne  Bergstrom via email
• “Who is Charlie Kirk? Never heard of him. Name it after an Arizonan.” — William Soder via email
• “I am not in favor of naming a portion of the freeway in the name of Charlie Kirk. There are so many people or organizations that work so hard to support the community and represent a larger group that deserve recognition without the political connotations.” — Wendy Gibbs via email
• “I’m not a fan of renaming our Arizona highway after Charlie Kirk. This man was unknown to me and my family until this tragic incident. Unfortunately, some people are trying to make him a martyr, but this is a small percent of people in this great state of Arizona. Let’s leave the highway naming alone. I’m sure the small percentage of people who follow  his teachings can put up a statue in his honor.” — Susan Tabor via email
• “No way any Christian nationalist should have their name on anything. These are dangerous, small-minded people who don't even know the teachings of Jesus. If they did, they would not be out screaming their religion from the mountaintops. Also, how is he Arizona’s son? He wasn’t born here, didn’t go to school here; his widow was Miss Arizona but she wasn’t born here, went to college here. Leave it 202. I wouldn’t even want it renamed the Rob Reiner Raceway; just leave it the way it is.” — Dan M. Freeman via email
• “Charlie Kirk’s death was tragic yes. However, Charlie Kirk was not an elected official, he was a podcaster. Renaming a highway that’s already named after an actual elected official is just wrong. Ed Pastor, our state’s first Hispanic representative in Congress, did more for Arizona than Kirk could ever dream of doing for Arizona.” — George D. Rascón  via email