Following Charlie Kirk’s death, public universities fired and censured employees who posted critical comments about the conservative icon. Months later, and with some legal pressure, a handful of schools are reversing course.
In recent months, at least three fired professors have reclaimed their jobs, and three more have had suspensions lifted or investigations concluded in their favor. One of those employees, Darren Michael at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee, also secured a $500,000 settlement from his public university, The Tennessean, a member of the USA TODAY Network reported.
Universities weren’t alone in their actions. A Reuters report found that employers across the country fired hundreds for sharing disrespectful remarks about Kirk. But universities pride themselves on being centers of open inquiry where hateful speech is met with debate.
Beyond that, free speech experts say the First Amendment allows government employees to speak as private citizens about events that affect the public. The assassination of a public figure – Kirk had millions of followers on social media and ties to the Trump administration – fits that bill. What’s more, many of the fired professors shared their remarks on their personal social media accounts, not necessarily as envoys of their school.
