At the Escambia County Commission meeting yesterday, Chair Mike Kohler proposed renaming a portion of North 65th Avenue between West Fairfield Drive and Lillian Highway as “Turning Point USA Road” in memory of the late Charlie Kirk and the organization he co-founded. The proposal sparked intense debate during a lengthy commission meeting, highlighting deep divisions within the community.
- The discussion ended with a unanimous vote to drop the proposal.
Chair Kohler’s Initial Defense
Kohler opened the discussion by firmly defending his proposal against criticism that it was racially insensitive. “Let me tell you how this came about. On Sept. 10th, there was a political assassination. No matter if you like Charlie Kirk, you don’t like Charlie Kirk. We’ve had that before. It’s wrong. This was never about offending black people.”
Referencing other recent instances of political violence, including attempts on President Trump’s life, he stated his motivation was to take a stand against political violence. “This was about literally fighting against political activism, assassination and all the things.”
The chair read statements from various political leaders condemning Kirk’s murder, including remarks from Presidents George W. Bush, Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama, all calling for an end to political violence.
Commissioner May’s Motion to Drop the Item
Commissioner Lumon May ultimately moved to remove the road-naming proposal from the agenda entirely. He said, “We have to recognize the cultural war that we’re having in this country… It’s always been my goal to be united on this board and be united in this community, whether you’re conservative or liberal, or whoever you are, black or white, Democrat or Republican.”
The stretch of North 65th Avenue that Kohler wanted renamed is in front of Escambia High School. Commissioner May referenced the historical context of the school and the importance of its history to the community.
“We have to recognize that this is very sensitive. I know people who got beat. I know people who almost lost their lives and phone call after phone call,” May said. “And this issue is so sensitive when you have 15 to 20 leading pastors show up because they’re concerned that’s important to this community; it’s important to their parishioners. It’s not just important to District 3 , it’s important to everybody.”
Background:
Escambia High School, originally an all-white institution, began desegregation in 1969 as part of federal mandates enforcing integration across southern school districts. When Black students first arrived, they immediately protested the school’s Confederate imagery, including the “Rebel” mascot, the band’s performance of “Dixie,” and the display of Confederate flags at school events. These tensions quickly escalated into serious violence, with riots erupting in 1972 and continuing through the mid-1970s. The unrest became so severe that it disrupted the entire school year, forcing Black students to boycott classes during periods of peak conflict.
The controversy moved through the courts as communities grappled with the symbolic divide. In July 1973, Federal Judge Winston E. Arnow ruled the Confederate symbols “racially irritating” and banned their use at Escambia High, but the school district successfully appealed the decision. A higher court reversed the ban in 1975, returning the matter to local control and reigniting tensions that culminated in a devastating 1976 riot where four students were shot and widespread law enforcement intervention was required to restore order. Following final court decisions, the school district finally resolved the crisis in spring 1977 by adopting a new mascot, the “Gators,” officially ending nearly a decade of conflict over the Rebel imagery.
Commissioner May Kohler’s effort to find common ground, which drew applause from the crowd, but said, “With all due respect, I would move to drop this item from the agenda today.”
Commissioner Stroberger’s Personal Perspective
Commissioner Steve Stroberger offered a personal account of his military service and views on merit-based advancement.
- “I want to take racists off the table first,” he said. “It was insinuated what I said a couple of weeks ago about our cooperation with ICE was racist. I am not a racist. Let me qualify it like this. Please”—which drew some murmurs from the audience— Let’s be respectful y’all. The gentleman who is the godfather of all of my five kids, is a black man. His name is Cedric Patman, the most godly man I know.”
He shared an anecdote about being shown pilot qualification scores broken down by race during his military service, expressing his opposition to what he saw as discriminatory practices.
- “That is what Charlie Kirk is talking about,” Stroberger said, defending Kirk’s opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. “That’s why Charlie Kirk was against DEI because we all should have the opportunity to succeed and not be questioned whether we deserve it or not.”
Stroberger also pushed back against accusations of racism, sharing personal details about his relationships and military service to demonstrate his character.
Commissioner Barry’s Measured Response
Commissioner Steven Barry supported dropping the agenda item while acknowledging the community concerns. “I am certainly going to support dropping the item. I agree with the comments from a dear colleague, Commissioner May, and clearly we had a lot of people come and speak about how this potential item affected them personally.”
- Barry noted the high threshold for naming county roads and the fact that such decisions “have not aged well” in the past. He expressed hope that some positive dialogue would emerge from the discussion despite the controversy.
Commissioner Hofberger’s Brief Comments
Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger talked about the unintended consequences of DEI policies, particularly regarding women in professional settings. “I cannot speak as a minority, but I can speak as a woman, and I can tell you that DEI has ruined the perception that I have earned my spot. People look at me, and they don’t know if I worked my butt off to get here, and I sacrificed to get here or if I’m here to check a box.”
The Final Vote
The motion to drop the road naming proposal from the agenda passed with Commissioner May making the motion and receiving a second. Chair Kohler concluded by acknowledging the diverse composition of the commission and reaffirming his commitment to fighting against violence and extremism.
“This is the most diverse board I think ever in Escambia County,” Kohler noted, emphasizing that the proposal was intended to thwart violence rather than promote division.
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