Republican officials and conservative activists utilized social media following the tragic death of Charlie Kirk in September to identify and monitor comments they deemed disrespectful to the memory of the pro-MAGA activist. Consequently, individuals in the education sector and both public and private employment who were perceived as endorsing hateful speech faced suspensions, terminations, and even legal repercussions. By November, Reuters had documented approximately 600 cases where Americans faced consequences for their remarks on Kirk’s passing, varying from mild criticism to offensive language.
However, the repercussions of these forceful actions, often violating First Amendment rights to free speech, are now surfacing, sometimes at the expense of taxpayers. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) recently disclosed that Brittney Brown had secured a settlement of nearly half a million dollars with Florida. Brown, a biologist employed by the state’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for seven years, was dismissed for sharing a meme on her private Instagram account comparing reactions to Kirk’s shooting to his stance on school shootings in the U.S. The termination followed pressure from the popular Libs of TikTok account.
Although Brown won’t be reinstated, the FWC agreed to provide her with a neutral reference for future job inquiries and committed not to target her if her work intersects with state agencies again. This settlement came after a federal judge criticized Brown’s former boss for making baseless claims about complaints regarding Brown’s social media post. Brown expressed frustration with the events of the past months, accusing Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration of hypocrisy.
In a separate incident, Larry Bushart, a retired police officer, received $835,000 from Tennessee after spending 37 days in jail for a felony charge of threatening mass violence at a school, which was later dropped. Bushart’s Facebook post, featuring President Donald Trump’s remarks after a school shooting, led to concerns in Perry County, prompting his arrest.
Meanwhile, Iowa settled a case related to Kirk, reinstating public defender Maria Ruthtenberg with a $125,000 compensation package. The Trump administration issued warnings about inflammatory rhetoric following Kirk’s death, with the State Department pledging to revoke visas for those celebrating the activist’s assassination. Senator Marsha Blackburn called for the dismissal of three university officials in Tennessee for their social media posts about Kirk.
Progressive commentators and Democratic lawmakers highlighted what they perceived as double standards post-Kirk’s death, pointing out instances of cancelled speeches for conservative guests at liberal colleges. Kirk himself faced criticism for remarks made about Nancy Pelosi’s spouse, while Trump’s rhetoric following Kirk’s killing has drawn scrutiny for being insensitive.