Oklahoma Republicans propose all state colleges must have Charlie Kirk statue

Schools would be required to build memorial plaza and describe slain activist as civil rights leader or face fines

Republican lawmakers in Oklahoma introduced legislation this week that would require every public university in the state to construct a Charlie Kirk Memorial Plaza", with a statue of the assassinated Republican activist and a sign calling him a modern civil rights leader", or pay monthly fines.

The proposed legislation comes as conservatives pay tribute to the murdered activist and podcaster, whose life will be commemorated by the president at a service in Arizona on Sunday, by comparing him to martyred political and spiritual leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr and Saint Paul.