The right wants Charlie Kirk memorials across the US – but is it just an attempt to capitalize on his killing?

Critics say mandatory statues on college campuses and street renamings are a way to keep US culture wars going

Republicans and conservatives are campaigning to quickly build statues and other memorials across the United States for the slain rightwing activist Charlie Kirk in the wake of his assassination at a college event in Utah last month.

Political leaders in states such as Florida, Michigan and Oklahoma have not only called for construction of memorials but in some cases also threatened to penalize colleges that refuse to publicly honor Kirk, who was killed on 10 September.