Several former state employees are fighting back after they were fired for making demeaning remarks about the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
After the murder, which occurred in September, many on the left openly celebrated and mocked Kirk’s death, prompting a backlash from people on the left and right. Many of these individuals lost their jobs in the public and private sectors after their comments came to light.
At least four individuals who served in government positions are suing over their firings, alleging that their First Amendment rights were violated.
Brittney Brown, who worked for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, was fired after reposting a post which 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.”
‘One fascist down; a whole socio-political movement to go’: Fired anti-Charlie Kirk Auburn landscaper sues university
— 1819 News (@1819News) October 27, 2025
By @aprylmarie https://t.co/3muJ8M1qQk
She was later fired after the Libs of TikTok account highlighted the post on X. Her supervisor called her and told her she would have to choose between resigning or being terminated, according to the complaint. In her lawsuit, her lawyers argue that her “political statement does not condone Mr. Kirk’s killing; nor does it call for further violence.” Instead, the post commented on Kirk’s position on the Second Amendment.
Candice Hale is suing Auburn University after it fired her over a post about Kirk’s death. “I do not mourn oppressors. I do not show them empathy. I don’t give a damn about evil racist, fascist, misogynist, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, mediocre white men who claim to be Christian individuals and then do everything Christ would not do on Earth,” she wrote. She had been a lecturer at the school’s College of Liberal Arts.
The lawsuit argued that her post “contained no threat of violence” nor did it “suggest that violence was appropriate.”
State government employees are taking to the courts after being fired over social media posts criticizing conservative activist Charlie Kirk upon his assassination. https://t.co/I9IwGXcG75
— WJBF (@WJBF) October 31, 2025
Kevin Courtwright also sued Auburn University. He was fired over a social media post in which he wrote, “One fascist down; a whole socio-political movement go. FAFO nazi trash.” His lawsuit acknowledges that his comments were “insensitive, offensive and inflammatory,” which means they were “exactly the type of speech the First Amendment protects.”
Former Professor Michael Hook was a tenured art professor at the University of South Dakota. On the day of Kirk’s assassination, he posted on Facebook, “I don’t give a flying f*** about this Kirk person. Apparently he was a hate spreading Nazi…I have no thoughts or prayers for this hate spreading Nazi.”
He later deleted the post and wrote an apology, “I extend this public apology to those who were offended.”
Two days after he wrote the initial post, multiple South Dakota politicians condemned his words and called for his firing. The school sent him a letter informing him that they were placing him on administrative leave and intended to terminate his employment. Hook filed a lawsuit asking for a temporary restraining order, which a federal judge granted.
Each of the plaintiffs argue that their speech was protected by the First Amendment. Each of them are seeking reinstatement to their jobs along with monetary damages.
