Mar 9

Mar 9 Charlie Kirk

Chicago, Demonstrations, Performance, Protest, Public Declarations

Far-right firebrand Charlie Kirk brought his 2023 college tour to the University of Illinois’ Chicago campus tonight. Kirk, who is an evangelical Christian, has espoused a series of highly inflammatory views that bring out both supporters and detractors wherever he goes. He has claimed that hydroxychloroquine is “100% effective in treating [Covid 19].” in Kirk’s mind, the Russian invasion of Ukraine is nothing more than a minor dispute over a border.

In terms of identity politics, Kirk vehemently rejects the notion of white privilege. Covering all bases, he also rejects transgender rights, as well as calling for a return to the “biblical model” for men, lest we descend into what he calls “sexual anarchy.” Kirk, who was chairman for Students for Trump, helped finance busloads of January 6 demonstrators, which resulted in an appearance before the January 6 Committee.

Most notably, Kirk is a master of marketing, using slick websites (Charlie Kirk and Turning Point) as the cornerstone for his efforts. To keep his views on the front burner, he hosts a daily radio show on Salem Radio Network; this show is now one of the top 10 news shows on Apple New Podcast rankings. He is also an author and a master fundraiser.

To achieve his success, Kirk lives in the eye of the storm, which explains why he brought his “show” to UIC. His presence all but guaranteed counter demonstrations, which bring out the news media About 100 showed up tonight; the number would have likely been higher were it not for the rain and cold.

In the end, Kirk is a coward. I arrived at the UIC Forum two hours early, hoping to get in as a member of the press. The entrance area was already under police protection, with the familiar bicycle racks creating a protective perimeter. I asked to go inside so that I could obtain credentials. There was no way I or anyone else was getting inside to talk to the organizers. I offered to undergo a full body and bag search, but the answer was still “No.” I was told that only two members of the press with cameras were authorized to photograph the event. Based on the stories in the Chicago Tribune and Sun Times that appeared around 10 PM tonight on their websites, neither was allowed inside with a camera—at least there were no images from inside the event. At the end of the day, Kirk wants to tightly control the narrative, relying on a web simulcast to transmit the images that his people have scripted. But Kirk did capture my image in a short video he posted on Twitter (I am in the long coat at the end of the ten second video).

As for the UIC students: they were some of the most pathetic demonstrators I have ever encountered—the word ”languid” captures their demeanor. The first student who took the bullhorn had to ask the crowd for “chant” suggestions, and he then had trouble remembering the words. So much for preparation or a course in public speaking.

The marchers arriving at the UIC Forum pretty much stood like bovine on the sidewalk to the west of the facility. Very little noise, and rather lackluster efforts from those who held the bullhorn before passing it to the next “speaker.” One lone demonstrator stood closer to the entrance blowing an annoyingly shrill whistle. As I circulated between those waiting to undergo the required search before admission to the event and the students, the student numbers kept dwindling.

The students’ complaints were narrowly focused. The first speaker identified himself as bisexual before he spoke; he may have also thrown in nonbinary and a “they” pronoun. But why sexual orientation is the least bit relevant in this context is beyond me. Much of the student focus was on Kirk’s views regarding transgender rights.

Given Kirk’s views on racial politics, climate change, Ukraine, the 2020 election, and Donald Trump, I would have expected a broader range of issues to be raised by the students. To be clear, I don’t have any issues with transgender rights. I don’t really care who is standing next me at the urinal. Nevertheless I am astonished why this issue dominates all the issues raised by Kirk’s broad agenda. The student focus on this red meat issue only encourages Governor DeSantis and others of his ilk to increase the grill’s temperature.

My big beef with the students is their views on the First Amendment. They don’t like Kirk, which to them means he should not be allowed to speak at a UIC facility. I am in John Stuart Mill’s camp. If someone’s actions don’t harm someone else, then they should be allowed to express themselves. For many of the students, Kirk’s presence on campus causes them “psychic” harm even when there are plenty of other locations on campus blocks away from the UIC Forum. At least that is what they claim. I simply don’t believe that the supposedly aggrieved students are as delicate and vulnerable as they claim when controversial speakers show up on college campuses.

College is designed to teach people that others hold views different from their own. The solution is not to shut down the speaker, but to learn how to live in a society where not everyone shares the same view. My answer to the students: Toughen up; organize a symposium where Kirk’s views are discussed and discredited; and even invite Kirk to participate. In other words, take control of the narrative rather than whimpering. I also should note that one demonstrator tried to impede my photographic efforts while I was standing on a public sidewalk. Oddly, I was photographing the Kirk acolytes as they entered, but this jerk was aligned with the students.

As an aside, I am not sure who owns or controls the UIC Forum, but if it is government-owned and regularly allows outsiders to rent it for events, UIC was most likely unable to deny Kirk access under the U.S. Supreme Court’s longstanding “public forum” framework. In that sense, the students’ should take the issue up with the Supreme Court rather than the school administration. Brian Flood, a UIC public relations person, told the Chicago Tribune that it does not endorse Kirk’s views, nor is the university sponsoring the event.

Interestingly, when I arrived home, I watched several clips from the event simulcast. In the Q & A session, I saw one of the students I photographed earlier asking Kirk about transgender rights. To his credit, the student was measured and maintained his dignity. While Kirk was forcefull, he also was respectful, stating why he is opposed to men who have transitioned participating in women’s sports. I don’t know enough about the issue to take a position, but I did like the mere fact that two people on opposing sides of the issue were talking to each other.

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