A portion of All American Way in Westminster, California, has been officially renamed Charlie Kirk Way in honor of the slain conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA. The street signs bearing Kirk’s name appeared this week, following the City Council’s approval of the measure last fall. Kirk was killed in September 2025 while speaking at Utah Valley University during a TPUSA campus tour.
Residents React to the Name Change
Some local residents expressed strong opposition to the renaming. Terry Rains, a Westminster resident, organized a protest in December to oppose the change, calling the original street name, All American Way, 'inclusive and welcoming.' She held signs urging voters to 'Vote them Out' and displayed slogans like 'No Kirk Way! No Kirk Day! Hands Off A.A.W!' Other residents, including Ashley Lawrence and Ann Galvan, expressed shock and anger, with Lawrence calling the decision 'hateful.'
City Council’s Rationale
Westminster Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen, a Republican who fled communism in Vietnam in the 1970s, proposed the name change. He stated that the renaming promotes 'freedom of speech and open communication' in the city. The City Council approved the measure last fall, leading to the recent installation of the new street signs.
Background on Charlie Kirk
Kirk was a prominent conservative figure known for his advocacy of free speech and his role as the founder of Turning Point USA, a conservative youth organization. His death during a campus tour sparked nationwide discussions about political violence and free speech on college campuses.