New street signs honoring slain political activist Charlie Kirk went up this week in Westminster sparking divided reactions among residents and visitors to the city.
Westminster Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen stood beneath the newly installed Charlie Kirk Way sign on Tuesday, defending the redesignation as a symbol of free speech. “By doing this, we promote the freedom, the freedom of speech, freedom for everyone to engage in open communication here in the city of Westminster,” Nguyen told ABC7.
The street leading to the city’s Civic Center was redesignated from All American Way to Charlie Kirk Way following a 4-1 city council vote last fall. The redesignation doesn’t officially change the street name on addresses, only the physical signs between Westminster Boulevard and 13th Street.
Nguyen, who proposed the idea, said he was inspired by Kirk’s work with young people. “I myself am very inspired by what Charlie Kirk has been doing for the country, what he’s been doing to the younger people, for the next generation,” he said.
However, the move has drawn sharp criticism from residents who view the honor as divisive. Westminster resident Terry Rains organized a protest in December to oppose the change. “That street is called All American Way. That is inclusive. That welcomes everyone into our Civic Center,” Rains said. “These are all public buildings, and so tainting the name just completely denigrates the entire… what that stands for.”
Ann Galvan from Garden Grove said she thought the sign was “a joke,” while Ashley Lawrence from Los Angeles called it “hateful.”
News of the signs spread quickly on social media, prompting people to drive from across Southern California to see them. Reactions at the site ranged from support to disbelief. One visitor said, “I’m really happy to see that, because I’m his big fan,” while another called it “a little ridiculous.”
Nguyen insists the honor is not political. “I’m not saying that Charlie Kirk is a Republican or Democrat. I don’t take it that way,” he said. “I look at the way that he is dedicated. He is sacrificing to do what needs to be done for our country, and he is a patriot.”
Kirk, an ally of President Donald Trump who worked to engage young voters through his organization Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University in Orem. The shooting occurred from a rooftop overlooking a crowded courtyard.
Tyler Robinson, 22, of Utah, is accused of the shooting. He was arrested the following night when he turned himself in with his parents at a sheriff’s office in southwest Utah, more than three hours from the crime scene.
Last year, the Westminster City Council also designated Kirk’s birthday, October 14, as “Charlie Kirk Day” in a 3-2 vote.
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