A proclamation with the city of Coeur d’Alene recognizing a day for Charlie Kirk was met with opposition and support during the City Council meeting Tuesday. 

Several high school students called the proclamation exclusive, hurtful and wrong, and said it will not benefit the city to highlight the violent death of one man. 

“It's not a great thing to recognize someone who was so divisive in his public speech,” said another resident during the meeting attended by about 50 people in the Coeur d’Alene Public Library Community Room. “Some of the things he said were pretty awful.” 

Another woman said, “Charlie Kirk did not stand for anything I stand on. His teaching was based on bigotry.” 

Kirk, a conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed Sept. 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University. He was 31. 

Mayor Woody McEvers signed a proclamation that declared “A Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk” on Oct. 14. It read, in part: “I call upon the people of our community to observe this day with programs, prayers, family gatherings, civic discussions and peaceful dialogues that celebrate his enduring contributions to our faith and values, while standing firm against violence and for the enduring power of open expression.” 

But McEvers was criticized for reading only part of the proclamation and omitting the first sections that referred to Kirk’s Christian beliefs. One woman said the city was trying to remove faith and God from the conversation. 

“Shame on you,” Erin Barnard said to the mayor and City Council, then added, “I forgive you, Mayor Woody and council members for cowering to the loud, angry few that do not like what our country stands for.” 

Councilor Christie Wood said the proclamation “caused some political debate in this community.” 

She said there were two areas that could unite everyone: Denouncing political violence and “unwavering commitment and support of the First Amendment.” 

Wood said people may hear what they consider offensive speech, “But I still want to live in a country where I’m free to speak and we want that for all of you. We can unite around that.” 

Wood said she asked for a proclamation that acknowledges all victims of political violence. 

"It doesn’t matter what side of the political aisle you sit on. The grief for the families is very real,” she said. 

Resident Conrad Woodall said he appreciated the students speaking up. 

“That’s actually what Charlie would want you to do, come here and speak,” Woodall said. 

Stefanie Fetzer, with Tradfam.org, which celebrates traditional family values, wrote the proclamation. She defended Charlie Kirk. 

“He wasn’t racist. He wasn’t a bigot,” she said. “He spoke from love. He gave everybody a microphone.” 

District 4 Sen. Ben Toews said Charlie Kirk raised and argued points about faith and gender that have been silenced in many arenas. 

"We need to be able to have these conversations. We need to be able to have disagreement,” Toews said. 

Toews went on to read parts of the proclamation that were not read earlier: 

“Kirk’s unwavering commitment to the Gospel and the teachings of Jesus Christ guided his life’s work, inspiring countless individuals to embrace biblical truth, pursue righteousness, and live out the Great Commission through acts of service, evangelism, and moral courage in a secular age."

After the meeting, McEvers said he read part of the proclamation for the sake of brevity as there were many people signed up to speak and he wanted to be sure everyone had that opportunity. 

“It worked out,” he said. “Everybody got their time.” 

McEvers said he fielded phone calls and emails most of Tuesday from people who opposed the proclamation and did not want him to sign it.  

He said as mayor, it’s his job to listen to both sides. He hadn’t expected it to become such a combative issue and the cause of divide in the community.

“I did the best I could considering I let it go and got hammered for it,” McEvers said, adding “It's funny what becomes important and what isn’t.” 

A Charlie Kirk memorial is scheduled at 6 p.m. Oct. 14 at Coeur d’Alene City Park. 

    Wood