Last year, the skateboarding community was one of many groups reacting to the death of Charlie Kirk.
While he was best known as the co founder of Turning Point USA, his passing also led several well known names in skateboarding to share their thoughts publicly, showing that his influence reached beyond politics.
As we previously reported, skateboarding legends Lance Mountain and Steve Caballero were among those who paid tribute after Kirk was killed.
READ MORE: Brother in Christ Lance Mountain Honors Charlie Kirk with “Jesus Saved My Life” Message
Their posts drew reactions throughout the skateboarding community, with many riders expressing their own opinions about free speech, respect, and the way people respond to those they disagree with.
Boonies Skateboards pro skater Jason also shared his thoughts following Kirk's death.
He said that no one should ever be silenced simply because others disagree with what they have to say.
His comments reflected a belief held by many that people should be able to express their views without violence.
READ MORE: The Boonies Pro Skater Jason Ellis Speaks Out About the Assassination of Charlie Kirk
Former professional skateboarder and current mayor Mikey Taylor also honored Kirk after the tragedy.
READ MORE: Retired Pro Skater Mikey Taylor Honors Conservative Influencer Charlie Kirk with Emotional Tribute
Tim Pool, who was a close friend of Kirk, spoke openly about the loss and how difficult it was for him to process the news.
READ MORE: Pro Skater Tim Pool Asks to Pray For Charlie Kirk After He Was Reportedly Shot
Now, nearly a year after Kirk's assassination, a new tribute is being prepared in New York City.
Artist Sergio Furnari announced that he plans to unveil a life sized statue of Charlie Kirk in Times Square on September 10 at exactly 2:23 p.m., marking one year from the moment Kirk was killed at Utah Valley University.
Furnari, who was born in Sicily before moving to New York more than three decades ago, said he selected Times Square because he considers it the heart of the city and wanted the memorial to be seen by as many people as possible.
While he has not revealed the exact location, he said the statue will be mounted high on a truck so visitors gathered in Times Square can easily see it.
According to the artist, the sculpture was created entirely by hand after spending more than five months working on it. He said some days involved as many as 15 hours of work to complete the project.
Furnari Posted:
"Charlie Kirk monument handmade in nyc with my hand , soul and body . Unveiling set to be in Times Square New York City September 10 . Everyone WELCOME!!"
The finished piece stands around six and a half feet tall to match Kirk's height and shows him wearing a sweatshirt with the word "FREEDOM" across the front while holding a microphone, something that became closely associated with his campus appearances.
The statue is built using metal frames covered with a durable resin commonly used in the automotive and aviation industries.
Furnari said he hopes to eventually raise enough money to create a stainless steel version that can remain on public display for years to come.
Although many people view Kirk through a political lens, Furnari said the project was never meant to support a political party.
He explained that he is neither a Republican nor a Democrat and that he simply wanted to create something that honored free speech after seeing how people reacted following Kirk's death.
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He also criticized those who celebrated the assassination online and said he felt sympathy for Kirk's family, particularly his wife, who also became the target of online attacks. Furnari explained that while he did not always agree with Kirk's opinions, he believed disagreements should never end in violence.
The artist has also extended an open invitation to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to attend the unveiling ceremony, saying everyone is welcome to participate in the one hour commemoration.
For many skateboarders who spoke publicly after Kirk's death, the upcoming unveiling represents another moment to reflect on conversations that reached far beyond skateboarding.
While people continue to hold different opinions about Kirk and his work, several respected names from the skateboarding community made it clear over the past year that they believed violence should never replace open discussion.