1. United States
2. Okla.
3. Letter

I am writing to respectfully urge you to oppose SB 1187. This bill would require every Oklahoma college and university to build a “Charlie Kirk Memorial Plaza,” complete with statues and design mandates, and would even fine campuses that do not comply on time. This proposal is concerning for several reasons. First, Charlie Kirk has no ties to Oklahoma. Our colleges should honor individuals who have served our state and contributed to our communities, not an outside political figure who has no connection here. Second, this bill diverts time, money, and attention away from what really matters for students, families, and educators. Instead of building statues, we should be focused on improving affordability, supporting faculty and staff, and ensuring that higher education prepares young people for the future. Oklahoma faces many pressing challenges. Families are struggling with costs, schools need resources, healthcare access is uneven, and our infrastructure requires attention. These are the issues that will make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. SB 1187 does not address any of them. It would instead create unnecessary expense and division while doing nothing to strengthen our campuses or communities. I hope you will reject this bill and use your voice to lead on priorities that truly matter. You have an opportunity to set an example for other legislators by showing that our focus should be on policies that lift up Oklahomans and provide real solutions. Leadership means choosing substance over symbolism, and I believe your constituents will support that choice. Thank you for your service and for considering this request. I trust that you will work to ensure our state legislature directs its energy toward policies that genuinely help Oklahomans today and in the future.