KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Keene City Councilor Bobby Williams said Wednesday he would accept whatever penalty his colleagues may impose after facing days of backlash for inflammatory comments he posted about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

In a statement released Sept. 17, Williams acknowledged his words were “unkind and inflammatory” and apologized “if what I wrote on Facebook caused any pain to those who knew and loved Charlie Kirk.” He added, “It is a tragedy that two children have now lost their father.”

At the same time, Williams defended his right to speak freely, framing the controversy as part of a larger national struggle over free expression. “If I was just one guy who screwed up and was facing consequences, that would be one thing,” he said. “But across the country, there are hundreds of cases like mine, in which people who have expressed negative sentiments about Charlie Kirk are being subjected to organized harassment campaigns.”

Williams also suggested that efforts to censure or remove him reflect a broader erosion of democracy, warning fellow councilors that his silencing would be “a sign that things are not going well.”

The statement marks Williams’ first public response since his original Facebook post, made Sept. 11, which described Kirk as “a piece of [expletive] who promoted gun violence and died by gun violence.” The post was later deleted but quickly circulated online, sparking outrage.

By this morning, more than 1,070 people had signed a petition calling for Williams to resign, accusing him of mocking Kirk’s killing and undermining public trust in the City Council.

Kirk, 31, was shot and killed last week while speaking at a Utah university. A suspect was arrested the following day.

Mayor Jay Kahn issued a statement Friday distancing the city from Williams’ remarks. “A recent Facebook post by Bobby Williams concerning the murder of Charlie Kirk reflects his personal opinion and does not represent the views of Keene’s City Council,” Kahn said. “Regardless of political beliefs, we must all stand firmly against politically motivated violence in any form.”

Williams, who represents Ward 2 and is serving a term through 2027, has not said whether he plans to step down.