A Texas commissioner attracted a crowd of liberal locals after proposing the red county dedicate part of their highway as the ‘Charlie Kirk Corridor.’
More than 100 people piled into a Bastrop County courthouse on Monday to share their thoughts on the controversial resolution.
If passed, the county would designate part of Farm to Market Road 969 as a memorial to the late conservative podcast host Charlie Kirk.
The Illinois native was shot and killed at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in September.
The road in question sits 30 minutes east of downtown Austin in a county that has voted overwhelmingly red in the last four gubernatorial elections, per KXAN.
Commissioner David Glass proposed the designation, reported the Austin American-Statesman.
‘Kirk’s activism emphasized civic participation, free speech, and political engagement among youth, building a national network of student activists and influencing political discourse on college campuses and beyond,’ he said.
As the county gathered to vote, dozens of people held up ‘NO’ signs firmly indicating their disapproval of Glass’s divisive resolution.
Charlie Kirk was shot and killed in September while speaking at a Turning point USA event
Farm to Market Road 969 is located 30 minutes from Downtown Austin
The commission gave each side a turn to share the reason for their vote for or against the resolution. Ramos pictured with Angela Nixon
The session lasted 30 minutes, allowing each side to take turns defending their vote.
One speaker, Ruth Todd, called Kirk ‘one of the most polarizing figures in politics.’
‘[The name change] sends a message to a significant portion of our community that their comfort in their home county does not matter,’ she told the commission.
Another dissenter argued that Kirk, who was not from Texas, had no ties to Bastrop County.
Dock Jackson told the commission that a freedom colony was established by freed slaves near FM 969 in 1865.
‘With this history and the fact that Charlie Kirk, to my knowledge, has no relatives or connection to Bastrop County, I do not feel the court should pass a resolution endorsing this street name change,’ he said.
The vote was held at the Bastrop County Courthouse
More than 100 people showed up to express their opinions on David Glass’s controversial resolution
David Glass proposed the memorial designation, noting that Kirk’s ‘activism’ had inspired young people
Some did express support for Glass’s resolution. Mark White called Kirk ‘an American patriot and Christian.’
‘His message was grounded in American exceptionalism and a positive spirit of action,’ he said.
‘The abhorrent response to his brutal murder is proof enough why we need to honor someone who put the First Amendment first,’ added Judah Ross.
But even Glass admitted that he ‘absolutely’ didn’t agree with ‘everything Charlie Kirk said.’
‘Not all of us are going to agree, but we can agree to disagree,’ he said.
Not only did dozens of people show up to express their disapproval, but Glass’s inbox was also flooded before the meeting even began.
The Bastrop County Commission decided to table the proposition and Glass doesn’t plan to bring it up again
Those who did not support the resolution held signs with the word ‘No’ written on them. Justice Ramos (right) voted against the resolution
‘Two-thirds of them were from very considerate constituents asking me to postpone the vote and/or to reconsider the resolution,’ he told the American-Statesman.
‘I felt that I would honor their request. I replied to every email myself. The other 1/3 were very hateful with threats, etc. The confusion also was that it was never to rename the road but rather memorial designation.’
A memorial designation does not officially change the name of a road; only the House and Senate can make that distinction.
After the fallout, Glass tabled the resolution and doesn’t plan on bringing it up again.
‘I’m going to take a breath and have some conversations with my constituents,’ he said.
The Daily Mail contacted Glass for comment.
