Plans to name a highway after Charlie Kirk in Arizona have been blocked after Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed the proposal, sparking political controversy.
According to the Associated Press, the legislation sought to rename part of Loop 202 in the Phoenix area after Kirk, a conservative activist who was killed during an event in Utah last year.
In his message, Hobbs condemned political violence but said the resolution blurred the line between politics and public belief.
Hobbs wrote, “I will continue to work toward solutions that bring people together, but by inserting politics into a function of government this bill falls short of that standard.”
Republican lawmakers who supported the bill criticized the decision.
State Senate President Warren Peterson argued that the veto breaks tradition.
“The veto tells people that recognition now depends on political alignment, not contributions,” Peterson said in a statement.
“Arizona has never approached these decisions in this manner, and this is a disappointing change for our state.”
Lawmakers in more than 20 states have introduced dozens of bills to honor Kirk, including proposals to name streets after him, create a memorial day or promote free speech initiatives.
