Posters advertising an anniversary celebration for the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk have ignited backlash at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT Knoxville). The signs, which referred to the event as a "Kirkaversery," appeared to mock the killing that occurred one year ago.
One poster read, "We will celebrate the first new year AK (After Kirk)." The university has stated that it is not sponsoring any event related to Kirk's assassination and has not yet determined if the flyers are connected to anyone affiliated with UT.
"The University of Tennessee strongly condemns any message or activity that celebrates or makes light of violence or the loss of human life," a university spokesperson said in a statement. "We remain committed to ensuring our campus is a place that values civility and where human dignity is respected."
Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and Turning Point USA organizer, was fatally shot a year ago while participating in a live debate at Utah Valley University. The suspected shooter surrendered to authorities the following day and has pleaded not guilty to charges related to Kirk's death.
The appearance of the posters has drawn sharp criticism from political figures and conservative groups. Republican gubernatorial candidate Marsha Blackburn stated, "Political violence and murder ought never be celebrated." State Senator Brent Taylor, the Republican nominee for the Ninth Congressional District, echoed this sentiment, asserting, "Disagreement with a person's political views never justifies celebrating their killing. Educators should model restraint, not schadenfreude. Political violence is never acceptable."
Jason Zachary, a member of the Tennessee State House of Representatives, also contacted the university's leadership to condemn the display. The controversy gained further traction after the X account Libs of TikTok shared images of the posters, prompting widespread outrage online. Many social media users expressed disgust at the mockery of a violent death.
This incident follows a recent settlement between UT Knoxville and a professor who was fired after making comments in the wake of Kirk's assassination. The university agreed to pay Dr. Tamar Shirinian nearly $2 million to resolve a lawsuit alleging a violation of her First Amendment rights. Shirinian's termination was related to comments posted on her personal Facebook account, which she later described as "ineloquent and heartless."