Show Caption
Florida will pay nearly half a million dollars to a biologist to settle a free speech lawsuit after she was canned from her state job for a social media post criticizing Charlie Kirk after he was shot to death. It's the latest payout over similar claims for firings around the country in the wake of the conservative activist's killing.Brittany Brown, who worked for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, filed a lawsuit after she was fired in September 2025, just days after Kirk was slain while speaking at a Utah college by accused gunman Tyler Robinson.In a settlement agreement signed May 21, Brown will receive $485,000. The amount includes $235,000 to cover the loss of her job and $40,000 in backpay. She also received $210,000 to cover attorney fees and costs, reported the USA TODAY Network in Florida.Brown's claim was the first known lawsuit in Florida over a state worker facing disciplinary action for an online response to Kirk’s killing. Dozens of people, including teachers, professors, nurses, lawyers, and other professionals, were fired or faced disciplinary actions for posts they made after the Sept. 10 shooting. They included employees at public universities or state government jobs, giving them broader free speech protections.Since then, many have filed lawsuits, reclaimed their jobs or received payouts from their employers.Florida biologist fired after post about Charlie Kirk, whalesBrown lost her job on Sept. 15, 2025, after she reposted another account's post to her private Instagram story.The post that got Brown in hot water read: "the whales are deeply saddened to learn of the shooting of charlie kirk, haha just kidding, they care exactly as much as charlie kirk cared about children being shot in their classrooms, which is to say, not at all."The post was condemned and shared widely by conservative accounts on social media, including LibsofTiktok, which also called for Brown's firing. At the time, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said Brown's post "made light" of Kirk's killing."We have a zero-tolerance policy towards the promotion of violence and hate, and we will not stand for such behavior," the agency said in a post on social media on Sept. 15.Brown said that with her specialization in bird conservation, she has struggled to find a job because the commission is the regulatory body for this line of work. Part of the settlement includes her agreement not to apply or seek reinstatement to FWC in the future.An agency spokesperson declined comment on the settlement. Gary Edinger, an attorney representing Brown, said the case is the result of Brown’s “refusal to accept that the government gets to decide which opinions its employees are allowed to hold.”“These concerning practices underscore the extent to which political pressure from Tallahassee is influencing our state agencies,” Brown said in a statement. “FWC employees deserve better, and so do Floridians.”Scores of people lost jobs, faced discipline after Kirk postsEarlier this week, a former Tennessee police officer who was arrested and charged over posts he made about Kirk reached a settlement for $835,000 in order to dismiss a civil rights lawsuit against local authorities. Larry Bushart was arrested Sept. 22 and charged with making threats of mass violence after posting a photo of a President Donald Trump quote in the Facebook comments of a Perry County community group page, reported the Nashville Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network.His lawyers said he was held on a $2 million bond for over a month, causing him to lose his medical transportation job and miss the birth of a grandchild. Charges against him were dropped Oct. 29 after pushback from the community. His lawsuit accused Perry County, Perry County Sheriff Nick Weems and Perry County Sheriff’s Investigator Jason Morrow of violating his First Amendment and Fourth Amendment rights.In January, Austin Peay State University theater professor Darren Michael reached a settlement for $500,000 for his September firing over social media posts about Kirk. Michael had shared an article on his personal social media account titled "Charlie Kirk says gun deaths are ‘unfortunately’ worth it to keep 2nd Amendment," drawing backlash that included criticism from Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee.Michael was reinstated to his job Dec. 30, the Tennessean reported. More professors fired over their Kirk-related comments were also reinstated or had suspensions lifted or investigations concluded in their favor.Other settlements include a public defender and an English teacher at a high school, both in Iowa.This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA Today Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Stephany Matat is based in Tallahassee, Fla. She can be reached at SMatat@usatodayco.com. On X: @stephanymatat.Contributing: Chris Quintana, USA TODAY; Angele Latham, the Tennessean; the Des Moines Register
