ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (WAVY) — Petitions for and against a Charlie Kirk mural are circulating in Elizabeth City, sparking debate in the Harbor of Hospitality.
Community member Steven Young has proposed a mural on East Colonial Avenue honoring Kirk, who was shot and killed Sept. 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University.
“It was really gruesome how he went out, and it was very shocking,” Young said. “But the day that he did pass, I think in America, people realized that the cost of being a Christian and speaking the gospel went up dramatically here in this country.
The vision for the mural includes a bold font with Kirk’s name “and a cross representing his faith in Jesus Christ,” along with annual repainting ceremonies to keep the mural vibrant, and a QR code on it to link to Kirk’s speeches.
“People knew him for his faith, knew him for his boldness,” Young said. “It’s basically leaning on Charlie’s faith… a symbol that people can remember him, and that he spoke the gospel boldly without any fear.”
Young’s Change.org petition currently has more than 1,100 signatures to it. He said in the petition it would cost between $10,000 and $20,000 and would be funded by grassroots donations and crowdfulding, as well as Turning Point USA, the organization Kirk founded.
Young’s petition states that East Colonial Avenue is a perfect location for a Kirk mural due to its high traffic, family-friendly stretch that has daily visibility. The petition calls Kirk “a fearless champion of free speech, faith and conservative values.”
“His voice resonated across the nation, including here in Elizabeth City, where hundreds gathered for a vigil on September 12, 2025, to honor his bold legacy,” Young’s petition states. It added that, “together, we can honor Charlie Kirk’s courage and ensure his legacy inspires generations in Elizabeth City.”
Another Elizabeth City resident, Pearl Fontaine, has started a competing petition opposing the mural. Fontaine’s petition argues that Kirk’s message doesn’t reflect the community’s values.
“He stood for some very specific values and views that I know just aren’t going to resonate with a lot of people in our community,” Fontaine said. “This is not really about hatred for him or for Mr. Young. It’s just saying, I don’t think this is us… and about 2,000 people would agree with me so far.”
The petition against the mural also noted that the proposed placement of the mural would be adjacent to the Black Lives Matter mural “and could be taken as a direct jab against the movement.”
“This is not really about hatred for him or for Mr. Young, who started the petition for the mural, or anybody who followed Charlie Kirk,” she said. “Andrew Brown does have his own mural. That’s the gentleman who was killed here during an incident with the police. But it is on his family’s property in a very private neighborhood… which is what I think should be the case for this Charlie Kirk remembrance.”
Fontaine said downtown public art should celebrate local voices, not national political figures.
City leaders say they welcome public input as they prepare to discuss the proposal at Monday’s City Council meeting.
“Just come out and hear what I have to say,” Young said. “It’s going to be respectful and cordial. There is no hate… it’s just me exercising my right as an American.”
Whether the mural moves forward or remains an online debate will be decided in the weeks ahead.
