WASHINGTON – Congressional Republicans want a monument built in the United States Capitol to honor Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist whose Sept. 10 assassination plunged the nation into fear and mourning.

Sixteen GOP lawmakers sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson the day after the killing, asking him to erect a statue of Kirk to celebrate his legacy.

"This is not a symbolic gesture, but a permanent testament to his life's work, his courage, and his sacrifice," they wrote. "It will stand as a reminder that political disagreement must never be answered with violence, and that the fight for truth must carry on."

The group included Reps. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Lauren Boebert of Colorado. In a post on X, Luna said she owed her political career to Kirk.

"I would quite literally not be in office today if it weren’t for him," she wrote. "Even when my own party was working against me, Charlie endorsed me and campaigned to help me win election."

There are hundreds of works of art in the Capitol. The National Statuary Hall Collection contains 100 statues, two from each state, and is comprised of all kinds of historical figures, including former presidents and astronauts. In order for statues to be placed in the Statuary Hall Collection specifically, individual states must pass laws asking Congress to build them.

The morning after Kirk's death, Trump announced he would posthumously award the late activist the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor.

"That's terrific," Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, told USA TODAY when he learned the news. Cruz described himself as a "dear friend" of Kirk's and said he'd also be in favor of naming landmarks after the commentator.

Zachary Schermele is a congressional reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Republicans push for a monument to Charlie Kirk in the Capitol

Reporting by Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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