Hernando aldermen decline to advance proposal to rename street for Charlie Kirk
By Bob Bakken
HERNANDO, Miss. — A Hernando alderman’s bid to rename a section of Green T Road as Charlie Kirk Boulevard did not advance Tuesday night after the motion failed to draw a second, following more than an hour of emotional public comment for and against the change.
Alderman Kit Kitchens proposed renaming the portion of Green T Road West that begins at Old Highway 51 South and continues east to the west side of McIngvale Road, stating private donors would cover the cost of new signage. Kitchens said he shifted from an earlier idea to rename a stretch of McIngvale Road near the new high school after some residents raised school safety concerns. He added that DeSoto County Sheriff Thomas Tuggle had assured him law enforcement could secure the area.
Kitchens framed the proposal as a response to “the assassination of Charlie Kirk,” saying the conservative commentator “helped countless people, primarily young people,” and that the honor would encourage “non-violent political speech and discourse.”
But residents were sharply split on the idea. Supporters, including students and parents, praised Kirk’s influence on youth and called his killing an attack on free expression. Opponents argued Kirk is a polarizing national figure with no meaningful ties to Hernando and said civic honors should reflect unity or recognize local service.
Some suggested honoring local veterans and first responders, with one speaker specifically naming Lance Cpl. Josh Ose, a Marine from Hernando who was killed in Afghanistan in 2010.
After public comment, Kitchens’ motion received no second and died. An ensuing motion to deny the renaming failed on a split roll-call vote, and a motion to table the issue to a future date also failed. With no action taken, the board moved to the next agenda item.
Alderman Andrew Miller said he opposed the renaming because of its divisiveness, noting he had received numerous emails, texts and calls against the move. Others such as Aldermen Ben Piper, urged more time and consideration of other options, with Piper saying emotions remained high less than a week after the incident.
For now, no street name change was approved, and the city took no further action on the proposal.
