A Texas teacher’s union is suing the state government for its treatment of educators posting negative social media content about the late TPUSA Founder Charlie Kirk.
A lawsuit filed by plaintiffs Texas American Federation of Teachers against the Texas Education Agency on Tuesday (TEA) accuses the agency of unleashing “a wave of retaliation and disciplinary actions against teachers” after calling on schools to issue complaints against staff members posting negative content about the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
The Texas Tribune reports 350 complaints have been received by the Texas Education Agency concerning content about Kirk’s assassination.
Shortly after the passing of Charlie Kirk, Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath issued a release detailing the policy now subject to litigation along with its rationale.
“TEA has been made aware of some Texas public school educators that have posted and/or shared reprehensible and inappropriate content on social media related to the assassination of Charlie Kirk. These educators’ comments do not reflect the vast majority of Texas teachers who are dedicated practitioners that work diligently to serve the more than 5.5 million impressionable young minds in our classrooms,” the release stated.
“While the exercise of free speech is a fundamental right we are all blessed to share, it does not give carte blanche authority to celebrate or sow violence against those that share differing beliefs and perspectives,” Morath continued. “Mr. Kirk was a father and a husband, and tragically, his children no longer have their father, and his wife no longer has her spouse. As a father and husband myself, and as someone devoted to the education of children, it is heartbreaking.”
