An Italian-born artist is preparing to put a life-sized statue of Charlie Kirk on show in the middle of Times Square. The timing is exact: it will appear at the very minute the Turning Point USA co-founder was fatally shot a year earlier. It is an unusual tribute, and the sculptor insists he is not making a political statement.
A tribute timed to the minute
Sergio Furnari was born in Sicily and moved to New York City 35 years ago. He says the statue will go on display on Sept. 10 at 2:23 p.m., one year to the minute since Kirk’s death. He picked Times Square because he sees it as the city’s heart. "I’m a New Yorker, so Times Square is like La Piazza," he said.
Furnari is keeping the exact spot quiet for now. His plan is to mount the figure "really high on a truck so that everybody can see." He urged people to bring family and friends, suggesting admirers of Kirk might find "a little bit of peace or harmony."
Built by hand
The artist says he made the piece by "hand, soul, and body" over more than five months. The statue shows Kirk in a gray sweatshirt with the word "FREEDOM", similar to what he wore at Utah Valley University on the day he was killed.
The figure is built on metal frames and covered in a strong resin used on airplanes and cars. Furnari hopes to raise money to cast a stainless steel version, which he says would make it "bulletproof."
Why he made it
Furnari says the project is not a political move. He is neither a Democrat nor a Republican, and he admits he was not a follower of Kirk. "Actually, I didn’t agree with many of his things, but it’s about freedom of speech," he said. What pushed him to start was the online reaction after the shooting, including people making fun of Kirk. He called that "kind of despicable."
He also plans to invite New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani to an hour-long commemoration at the unveiling.
A mixed reception
Many people online were harshly critical. Several predicted the statue would be "destroyed" within weeks, pointing to the city’s progressive politics and to Kirk’s history of controversial public remarks.
Other attempts to honor Kirk have also struggled. Tennessee lawmakers paused a plan for plazas at public universities after an $18 million price tag raised eyebrows. University of Minnesota administrators opposed a bill requiring a statue. Proposals to rename roads and bridges in Texas and Arizona met backlash or were rejected, and efforts in Fountain Hills and Scottsdale have stalled.
Where things stand
The statue is set to appear on the first anniversary. Meanwhile, preliminary court hearings began in Utah last week for Tyler Robinson, 23, the suspect in Kirk’s killing. If Judge Tony Graf finds enough evidence for a trial, Robinson is expected to be arraigned and enter pleas. Oral arguments are set for early September, just before the anniversary, and a ruling is expected afterward.
Image credit: sergiofurnariart/Instagram
Source: The Mirror US
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