US companies fire employees for celebrating Charlie Kirk’s assassination
Charlie Kirk was a highly influential and divisive figure on the right, gaining a following by promoting the unfounded assertion that the 2020 election was fraudulent and criticizing what he referred to as “woke” culture.
His remarks regarding race, feminism, LGBTQ rights, and immigration frequently attracted significant backlash, leading to campus protests during his appearances and making him a target for both derision and admiration.
Kirk, who co-founded the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA at the age of 31, was a nonprofit dedicated to advancing conservative ideologies on high school and college campuses across the nation. He was fatally shot on Wednesday during an event at Utah Valley University, with authorities identifying 22-year-old Tyler Robinson as the suspect in his murder on Friday.
In the aftermath of Kirk’s murder on Wednesday, there has been a rise in terminations and disciplinary measures against employees across various sectors.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called for the dismissal of American Airlines pilots who were accused of celebrating Kirk’s death, stating that they should be “immediately grounded and removed from service.” Duffy wrote on X, “We heal as a country when we send the message that glorifying political violence is COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE!”
American Airlines confirmed it had “initiated action to address this,” stressing that “hate-related or hostile behavior goes against our purpose, which is to care for people on life’s journey.”
Delta Air Lines also revealed it had suspended employees pending an investigation after they posted social media content that “exceeded healthy, respectful debate,” acknowledging that a breach of the company’s social media policy could lead to termination, though specifics about the posts were not disclosed.
Idaho’s West Ada School District announced it terminated an employee who allegedly shared a video online, expressing that it was “shocked and saddened” by the incident and adding in a statement that “West Ada remains committed to nurturing and supporting our students and families and to addressing harmful actions thoughtfully, with care, and with a focus on doing what is right.”
In Oregon, a middle school science teacher was placed on administrative leave for commenting on Facebook that Kirk’s death “brightened up” his day, as reported by NBC affiliate KGW, leading to the teacher’s eventual resignation.
South Carolina’s Clemson University stated on Saturday that an employee was suspended during an ongoing investigation due to their social media comments regarding Kirk’s death. The university is also reviewing posts made by other staff members, which led Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., to remark, “Free speech doesn’t prevent you from being fired if you’re stupid and have poor judgement.”
The University of Miami’s health system declared that it fired an employee after “unacceptable public commentary,” explaining that “Freedom of speech is a fundamental right,” but also clarifying that “expressions that condone or endorse violence or are incompatible with our policies or values are not acceptable.”
A Children's Healthcare of Atlanta employee was terminated after making “inappropriate comments” about Kirk’s death on Friday, with a spokesperson indicating that “This type of rhetoric is not acceptable for Children’s employees and violates our social media policy.”
In Portage, Michigan, an Office Depot employee was let go after allegedly refusing to print flyers concerning Charlie Kirk at a customer’s request. Office Depot described the incident as deeply concerning and stated that the employee’s actions “are completely unacceptable and insensitive, violate our company policies, and do not reflect the values” of the organization, adding in a statement that “We are committed to reinforcing training with all team members to ensure our standards of respect, integrity, and customer service are upheld at every location.”
The inquiry into Kirk’s death is still underway.
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