Lynden School District considering creating Charlie Kirk Day to promote student debate

Correction: The story originally incorrectly stated that the Lynden School District had already established Charlie Kirk Day, when the district is still in the process of considering it. A school district vote is set to take place Sept. 18 to decide whether the day will be created or not.

The Lynden School District is considering establishing Charlie Kirk Day to honor the slain conservative activist.

Kirk was shot while speaking at a college event in Utah last week — a moment the board said highlights the need for peaceful civic engagement.

If created, the new observance would fall on the Monday before Sept. 10 each year.

“On Charles James Kirk Day, the Lynden School Board and the district will stand in opposition to political violence of any kind,” the district wrote. “It is the recommendation of the Lynden School Board that observation of this day be led by students where practical.”

Lynden School District’s argument for the dedicated day was to encourage student debate clubs, saying they help build listening, reasoning, and leadership skills.

“Respectful dialogue is a cornerstone of a healthy democratic society, and schools play a vital role in teaching students how to engage in civil discourse on a local level,” the district wrote.

The board hopes students will take the lead in marking the day.

Charlie Kirk shooting suspect charged with aggravated murder

Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old Utah man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk, was charged on Tuesday with aggravated murder, a prosecutor announced, saying Robinson left behind his DNA on the trigger of the rifle that fired the fatal shot.

The charge means Robinson could face the death penalty if convicted of killing Kirk last week at Utah Valley University in Orem, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of Salt Lake City.

“The murder of Charlie Kirk is an American tragedy,” Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said in announcing the charges.

Kirk was gunned down on Sept. 10 as he spoke with students and died soon after. Prosecutors allege Robinson shot Kirk in the neck with a bolt-action rifle from the roof of a nearby campus building.

A Utah Valley University police officer was watching the university campus crowd from an “elevated position” and identified the roof of the Losee Center as a potential position for a shooter, Gray said. The officer found evidence on the roof immediately, he said, and spurred officers to direct their attention to surveillance video leading to the roof.

Gray said Robinson discarded the rifle and clothing and asked his roommate to conceal evidence. Robinson left a note under a keyboard saying he planned to kill Kirk and confessed after the shooting, documents show.

Robinson also was charged with felony discharge of a firearm, punishable by up to life in prison, and obstructing justice, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. He was scheduled to appear on camera for a virtual court hearing Tuesday afternoon.

It was unclear whether Robinson had an attorney who could speak on his behalf, and his family has declined to comment to The Associated Press.

Robinson appears to have stayed in the area after shooting Kirk and ditching his rifle, authorities said.

Contributing: The Associated Press

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