(Picture credit John Gage)
LINCOLN — The University of Nebraska at Lincoln (UNL) said it has finished investigating who placed anti-Charlie Kirk posters around campus on the first anniversary of his death on September 10th. The university came under national scrutiny when dozens of posters with AI-generated faces of Kirk appeared on campus with messages mocking his death.
The university had initially told Governor Jim Pillen that they would conduct an “investigation” into the incident.
“I have been briefed regarding the university’s response and understand that they have removed all of this hateful, violent garbage and are conducting an investigation,” Pillen said at the time. “Nebraska’s public buildings and areas should never be vehicles for abusive speech, particularly when it celebrates the murder of a free-speech warrior and is designed to intimidate faithful, conservative students from expressing their views.”
On Thursday, a University of Nebraska spokesperson told The Plains Sentinel that the investigation had been handed over to the Lincoln Police Department (LPD).
The Plains Sentinel reached out to LPD, which responded and said they did not investigate the incident.
“LPD did not investigate it,” Erika Thomas, the spokeswoman for LPD, said. “There is no LPD case number, and no LPD reports were generated.”
Thomas added that university police did call “7-10 days ago to discuss” the incident.
“UNLPD did not locate any evidence, there was no damage and no law violation as the 1st Amendment allows free speech,” Thomas said. “It was determined there was no crime committed.”
Of the posters around campus, many were placed on the city’s bus stops outside of the UNL student union. Lincoln’s municipal code bars affixing posters to public structures, and violators can be issued a fine and up to six months in prison per violation.
Earlier this week, UNL’s chapter of Turning Point USA, the organization Kirk founded, held a “Pick Up the Mic” event in honor of its founder featuring Christian preacher and conservative internet personality Shane Winnings.
The event required a sniper team for security following what the university said was a “tragic event in the past at outdoor events on college campuses.”
— John Gage is the executive editor of The Plains Sentinel.