An Irish pub in Kensington has established a permanent memorial room dedicated to US conservative activist Charlie Kirk who was assassinated last month.
The pub called Biddy Mulligan’s also temporarily rebranded to ‘The Trump Arms’ upon the US President’s visit to the UK and is known for its MAGA supporting stance.
Landlord Damien Smyth, 59, told The Londoners the venue live streamed Kirk’s official memorial service which was held in Arizona last Sunday.
Kirk was assassinated on September 10 while addressing an audience on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
Tyler Robinson, 22, has been formally charged with aggravated murder and prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty.
Smyth said: “Now we only hear the extreme left view of those silly people who bang pots and pans in the streets.
“Charlie Kirk was a decent family man who engaged people through debate.
“I wouldn’t say we believe in right wing political views but simply common sense.”
Kirk was a political media personality who built the organisation Turning Point USA (TPUSA), which advocates for conservative politics on university campuses.
He was also an ardent defender of the constitutional right to bear arms.
According to Smyth, around 250 people attended the memorial event at the Kensington pub and brought flowers, pictures, and condolence messages for Kirk.
The Biddy Mulligan’s landlord described the event as ‘emotional’ and said it attracted mainly ‘young couples’ from British, Irish, and American backgrounds.
Following Kirk’s assassination, the pub hosted a series of debates celebrating free speech.
But not everyone has been supportive.
Kensington resident Pippa, 28, said: “Trump and Kirk are both racists and misogynists, so this feels very far beyond just a joke.
“Biddy Mulligan’s is a business – I feel they should be neutral.
“I can imagine this would make many people feel uncomfortable.
“I definitely won’t be going in there.”
Calum, 30, said: “It’s a wacky local pub.
“I wouldn’t feel comfortable going in there now with the Charlie Kirk memorial up – that’s absolutely not something I support.”
Smyth added he plans to send the condolence messages to Kirk’s wife, Erika, who last week said she had forgiven her husband’s killer as she was joined on stage by President Trump.
The pub near Olympia will now host regular debates in the room dedicated to Kirk’s memory.
Featured image: Biddy Mulligan’s pub in Kensington. Credit: Rose Battey
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