Debate continues this week in suburban community over whether to honor political activist Charlie Kirk at his alma mater Wheeling High School.
Thousands of people have already signed online petitions on both sides of the issue.
“It was very disheartening to see that there were dueling petitions really,” said Marsha McClary, Moms for Liberty Lake County Chair. “Charlie, even if you don’t agree with everything he said he was a prominent alumni and I believe that he should be honored.”
McClary plans to attend a school board meeting Thursday night in High School District 214 to voice her support of a memorial to honor Kirk.
“These schools are proclaiming to be inclusive, and this is not being inclusive if we aren’t going to honor his contributions,” she said. “I mean it’s been very very significant.”
She’s among the more than 4,000 people who have signed a Change.org petition calling for board members to recognize the political activist for his contributions, accomplishments and achievements as a notable alumnus.
Kirk graduated from Wheeling in 2012 and went on to start the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA.
“A high school should be extremely proud to have someone who’s had such an impact on the national and international stage that Charlie has,” said Steve Blye, who lives in Arlington Heights.
Byle said three of his five children attended schools in District 214 and believes he inspired the youth.
Charlie indisputably a leader among young people that no one has seen probably in this generation,” he said.
He and other supporters also want the district to approve requests for Turning Point USA chapters and a day of honor.
But others reject that idea saying Kirk was divisive and not unifying as expressed in an opposing petition.
NBC 5 contacted resident April Mahoney, who started the petition, for an interview but did not hear back. The petition also drew numerous signatures.
“He is a husband, father, and someone’s son who didn’t deserve to pass in the way he did. But regardless of that, he should not be the face of Wheeling High School and D214,” one comment read.
“Although I am against the violence that has occurred, and have a great deal of sympathy for Mr. Kirk’s family, I also must recognize that to bring such a deeply polarizing political force into a school is not an ethical thing to do,” another person wrote.
A spokesperson for High School District 214 said they’re aware of the two online petitions and told NBC Chicago in a statement:
“We are aware of the two Change.org petitions related to Charlie Kirk’s passing and actions District 214 should or should not take. The district is in the process of updating its processes to apply for and assess the Distinguished Alumni awards and has existing policies that detail how students can start new non-school sponsored co-curricular activities. We will follow those processes with these requests.
“While we continue to extend our deepest condolences to Charlie Kirk’s family and friends for this terrible and senseless loss, we will not hold a district-wide memorial as that would disrupt the learning environment at our schools. Instead, we encourage students, faculty, staff, and families to mourn and remember Charlie Kirk together at one of the many public services and vigils that are being organized throughout the community.”