Public agencies nationwide have been cutting ties with workers for making comments related to the assassination of assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last week.
In Indiana, a number of teachers, university staff members and other government employees are being shamed on social media for comments critical of Kirk’s views or making light of his death. Posts are generating thousands of comments, ranging from calls for firing to personal attacks.
In some cases, targeted employees have resigned.
Indiana teachers, administrators have faced criticism and been fired for comments
IndyStar confirmed as of Sept. 17 three school districts parted ways with teachers following their comments about Kirk’s death. However, a handful of schools and colleges stood by their employees’ right to freedom of speech while under pressure from right-wing politicians and personalities.
Attorney General Todd Rokita has since included instances of these comments made to his government dashboard, publicizing evidence Hoosiers submitted of teachers and administrators sharing comments about Kirk’s death online.
The AG has received criticism of this approach from First Amendment experts.
“The notion that an attorney general would conduct a dragnet for comments made about the shooting almost leaves me without words,” said Ken Paulson, director of the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University.
Previously: Are Hoosiers losing their jobs over Charlie Kirk posts? What we know
Gov. Mike Braun even chimed in on the issue on Sept. 17 and threatened to suspend or revoke the licenses of teachers who made “terrible comments” on social media in the aftermath of Kirk’s assassination.
A Ball State staff member was fired over comments she posted to Facebook about the Kirk assassination, IndyStar first reported on Sept. 18. On Sept. 22, the fired staffer and the ACLU of Indiana filed a lawsuit against the university, claiming her firing was unconstitutional.
Read the latest: Employee fired over Charlie Kirk post sues Ball State, arguing speech was protected
Government employees in Indiana have been criticized, fired for comments about Kirk’s death
IndyStar reported on Sept. 15 that an Indiana Department of Child Services staff attorney was no longer employed by the state after a comment made in “poor taste” was shared on social media about his killing.
A staffer in Rep. André Carson’s congressional office drew heavy criticism after she reposted multiple statements that were critical of Kirk.
“Actions have been taken internally,” spokesperson Caroline Ellert said in a statement to IndyStar. “Every House staffer has a First Amendment right to share their personal views. Congressman Carson has spoken out repeatedly – in the last week, and previously – that political violence is unacceptable,” the statement reads.
The president of the Muncie Human Rights Commission resigned Sept. 11, a day after he posted comments on Facebook that appeared to celebrate Kirk’s assassination.
Douglas Walker of the Star Press in Muncie contributed to this report.
The USA TODAY Network – Indiana’s coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners.
Have a story to tell? Reach Cate Charron by email at ccharron@indystar.com, on X at @CateCharron or Signal at @cate.charron.28.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Who lost their jobs over Charlie Kirk comments? See our coverage