Tennessee General Assembly Honors the Late Charlie Kirk, Champion of Faith and Free Speech

Tennessee General Assembly Honors the Late Charlie Kirk, Champion of Free Speech and Faith
In a solemn yet inspiring act of remembrance, the Tennessee General Assembly has passed House Joint Resolution 711,

introduced by House Majority Leader Jeremy Faison, to honor the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, who was assassinated in September 2025.

The resolution, memorializes Kirk as a man “of unwavering dedication to faith, freedom, and family.” It highlights his lifelong mission to engage young Americans in the civic process and to strengthen respect for the Constitution of the United States, especially the freedoms it guarantees under the First Amendment.

Charlie Kirk rose to national prominence as a teenager when he founded Turning Point USA, an organization whose stated mission was to educate students about the principles of limited government and free enterprise. While often a lightning rod for political debate, Kirk repeatedly championed peaceful dialogue, reminding audiences that “when people stop talking, that’s when you get violence.”
Kirk’s assassination on September 10, 2025 — reportedly while participating in a political and faith-centered discussion — sent shockwaves across the nation. In honoring his memory, Tennessee lawmakers recognized both the tragedy of his death and the enduring power of his message: that freedom of speech is sacred and must be preserved even amid fierce disagreement.
The Enduring Vitality of the First Amendment

The Assembly’s action is more than a gesture of remembrance—it is a reaffirmation of a foundational truth in American life.

The First Amendment, enshrined within the Bill of Rights, protects freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition. These freedoms are not mere privileges granted by government but inherent rights that define the American experiment in liberty.

The debates, disagreements, and dialogue that mark our civic life are, in fact, the lifeblood of democracy. As Tennessee legislators noted through this resolution, the right to peacefully express ideas—even controversial or unpopular ones—is essential for the moral and political health of the Republic.
In today’s polarized climate, the call to rediscover civil discourse rings especially strong. Kirk himself often urged Americans to engage one another in spirited yet peaceful debate, grounded in mutual respect. His tragic death serves as a sobering reminder that violence has no place in political life, and that the enduring antidote to division is open, honest, and fearless speech.
By passing House Joint Resolution 711, the Tennessee General Assembly underscored an old but urgent truth: freedom of speech only remains strong when it is exercised with both courage and grace.
In honoring Charlie Kirk, the State of Tennessee also honors the enduring American principle that ideas—not bullets—must govern the public square.