Despite pushback, Pasco issues proclamation honoring slain activist Charlie Kirk
Pasco Mayor David Milne read a proclamation at the city council meeting Monday night to honor Charlie Kirk, the influential conservative Christian political activist. He was killed last week at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
But the proclamation, which wasn’t voted on by the council, faced some criticism.
Councilwoman Blanche Barajas said after it was read that she objected to the focus on just one victim of violence, when there have been many.
“We should also recognize Senator Melissa Hortman and her husband for being killed, Iryna Zarutska from Ukraine, the students at Evergreen High School and the students at Annunciation Catholic School,” she said. “There were killings of young people, unnecessary killings just like Mr. Kirk’s.”
She also noted the proclamation goes against the city’s guidelines, which say that proclamations should recognize “exceptional events” and “extraordinary achievements” of Pasco citizens and nonprofit organizations.
The policy also says that requests for proclamations should be submitted 30 days prior to the date needed. The proclamation was submitted by another council member and accepted by Milne on Friday.
“I don’t think that was followed in this situation. We did not follow our own policy,” Barajas said.
During public comments, Pasco resident Jennifer Henley also was critical of the proclamation.
“Everyone has a right to mourn someone that they are upset about the death of, but this group is not a person. You guys represent the entire city. Some of those people disagree with the decision,” she said.
Ana Ruiz Kennedy, chair of the Franklin County Democrats, also spoke during public comments about the council not following its own rules for proposing a proclamation.
She encouraged the council to expand the proclamation to denounces violence against other political leaders who have been assassinated, including Martin Luther King Jr., President John F. Kennedy and more recent figures like Hortman.
“By recognizing all victims of political violence, we send a powerful message that our community values every voice, stands united against hate and believes in civil discourse over division.”
Ruiz Kennedy said it would have been better for the council to use the proclamation as a way to unite the community. She felt Kirk’s activism was divisive.
Milne told the Herald on Monday that he also received a letter from Carl Baker, chair of Tri-City Democrats, opposing the city’s proclamation.
‘Legacy of faith, freedom and service’
Milne told the Herald he wanted to recommend a moment of silence at the council meeting, and Councilman Peter Harpster suggested and wrote a proclamation.
Milne agreed and approved it on Friday.
Kennewick and Richland city councils do not have a proclamation for Charlie Kirk listed on their meeting agendas this week.
Milne said that he frequently watched Kirk’s show, “The Charlie Kirk Show” podcast, on YouTube and Facebook. He added that Kirk has influenced his life and his faith, and called him “courageous” for his open debates and public discourse.
Milne spoke before reading the proclamation.
“I love the fact that Charlie Kirk was for free speech. Where he would go, he would have a discussion and the best part about it was that he would have a discussion and violence wasn’t considered an option. To me, he was an inspiration. It was a profound loss. For me, it’s an honor to do this proclamation,” he said.
Harpster said he agreed with many of Kirk’s values. He added that one of the Pasco council’s goals is engagement in the community, and he said that’s something that Kirk stood for.
“I hope what people take away from this is the courage to have conversations with people we disagree with...,” Harpster said.
“I really hope that people would see what happened and that would embolden them to not be silenced and seek out people that they have disagreements with.”
Both men described the nonpartisan Pasco council as a conservative board.
“The city of Pasco joins communities across the country in mourning this profound loss and in recognizing the impact of Charlie’s voice, leadership and unwavering devotion to the truth,” the proclamation states.
The proclamation urges, “all residents to reflect on Charlie’s legacy of faith, freedom and service, and to recommit ourselves to those foundational values.”
Some of his views, however, on immigration, race issues, LGBTQ rights, abortion, gun control and other issues have been considered controversial by some groups.
The second proclamation the council was also read Monday designating National Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15-Oct. 15. Pasco is 57% Latino and in 2023, about 22% of the population was born in a foreign country.
- Also Monday, the council interviewed four applicants for an open city council seat and chose Joe Cotta, the lead pastor at Harvest Valley Calvary Chapel in Prosser. He ran in 2022 for a seat in the state Legislature in District 8. He was defeated by Rep. April Connors. The vote Monday was 5-1, with Councilman Leo Perales opposed.
This story was originally published September 15, 2025 at 5:31 PM.
