Far-right Christian nationalist Oklahoma schools superintendent Ryan Walters sparred with an Oklahoma father who refused to allow his teen son to partake in a statewide moment of silence in school for the late conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk, saying it was a violation of his constitutional rights, Newsweek says.
"I was really shocked and I was hurt, because I think that Charlie was a rather controversial figure and a lot of people have a lot of mixed reactions," said Marshall Wayne Thomas, whose 16-year-old son attends an Oklahoma high school . "Being forced to participate in a vigil or something to honor him, I feel really was a violation of our constitutional rights. It wasn't something I wanted my child to be a part of."
Thomas told Newsweek that he sat down with his son and reviewed Kirk's public statements before coming to that decision.
"We looked at some videos and reels on social media, some of the things that he had to say. I listened to my son to hear his opinion, and after we listened to it, he agreed that wasn't something that he really wanted to do, something that he wasn't ready to support," he said. "We agreed it would be beneficial to keep him out of school today."
Later that night, Ardmore Public Schools said they would not honor school Superintendent Ryan Walters' moment of silence order. Several other school districts followed, declining in statements saying they already comply with state law requiring a daily one-minute observance at the start of the school day.
Walters, a far-right Christian nationalist, shot back, telling Newsweek, "It speaks volumes that the same schools rushing to host pride parades, promote BLM rallies, and strip American flags from students can't spare even a moment of silence for a man who dedicated his life to America, truth, and faith.
"Charlie Kirk inspired a generation to think for themselves, embrace free speech, and engage in meaningful debate—values that some school districts clearly don't want their students to hear. His brutal murder was an act of political violence, and refusing to honor him reveals just how out of step these districts are with Oklahoma families."
Thomas, however, said they could grieve Kirk's death while rejecting his ideas.
"I think two things can be true. You can be grievously sad about what happened to Charlie Kirk and grieve for his wife and for his children, which I do, because I don't advocate violence and I don't advocate for what happened to him, but at the same time, I can't condone the things that he said during his lifetime, and stand behind the rhetoric that he chose to use," he said.
