Independent Newsmedia
By Amber Benjamin | Goodyear
OPINION — Arizona should not name Loop 202 after Charlie Kirk because public infrastructure is meant to honor individuals who united communities, strengthened democratic values and contributed positively to the common good.
Charlie Kirk did none of these things, in my opinion. He was not a unifying figure; he was a polarizing political opportunist whose career was built on division, outrage and personal enrichment.
Kirk rose to prominence by exploiting cultural and racial anxieties for attention, donations and influence. His rhetoric and organizing consistently trafficked in ideas that mirrored white grievance politics, portraying social progress and demographic change as threats.
Whether or not he explicitly embraced the language of white supremacy, the effect of his messaging was to legitimize it, normalize it and mobilize it for political gain. This was not leadership, it was grift.
Arizona was, and remains, a diverse state with deep Indigenous roots, strong Latino heritage, immigrant communities and people of many backgrounds contributing to its future. Attaching Kirk’s name to a major highway sends a message that division and exclusion are worthy of public honor. That message does not reflect the lived reality or shared values of most Arizonans.
Highways are shared public spaces, used by everyone regardless of political belief. Naming one after a culture war provocateur would politicize something that should remain neutral and inclusive.
Heroes are remembered because they brought people together in moments of challenge. They built bridges, literal and figurative, rather than exploiting fear and anger for personal gain.
Charlie Kirk divided the country for profit, not progress. Loop 202 should reflect Arizona’s future, not the legacy of a man whose influence depended on keeping Americans apart.
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