This story has been updated.
Public agencies across the country are cutting ties with workers for making comments related to the 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.
IndyStar is tracking cases in Indiana.
AG Todd Rokita releases dashboard with comments
Both Attorney General Todd Rokita and Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith are soliciting reports of teachers and other workers who “celebrate or rationalize” Kirk’s Sept. 10 killing. Beckwith said his office would contact management teams.
Attorney General Todd Rokita’s office updated its state-hosted education dashboard Sept. 17 to include nine instances of K-12 or university staff who posted criticism of Kirk or made light of his death. The dashboard includes contact information for each educator’s administration.
The dashboard includes employees from Ball State University, Elkhart Community Schools, Franklin College, the Metropolitan School District of New Durham, South Bend Schools, South Gibson School Corp., South Newton School Corp. and Valparaiso Community Schools.
Three Indiana teachers no longer employed
Teachers, especially, are in the spotlight for comments made following Kirk’s death. As Sept. 17, three across the state are no longer employed following their social media posts.
A Danville Community School Corp. teacher allegedly made a post on Facebook in which she condemned the killing but said Kirk reaped what he sowed. The district said she resigned in the early stages of the statutory review process.
Beckwith, the lieutenant governor, made an all-caps social media post about the Danville teacher’s comment: “Teachers like this are why Indiana public schools are radicalizing your children to hate those who disagree with them.”
Durham Township Superintendent Brian Ton confirmed a teacher at Westville Middle School in LaPorte County was no longer employed following comments she made about Kirk. The Times of Northwest Indiana reported that she resigned.
Bryan Perry, superintendent of the South Gibson School Corp., confirmed the resignation of a teacher there who appears in Rokita’s dashboard for several critical reposts on Instagram.
Rep. André Carson’s office defends staffer
Heather Harvey, a staffer in Rep. André Carson’s congressional office, drew heavy criticism after she reposted multiple statements that were critical of Kirk. They included claims that Kirk was a Nazi, a white supremacist and “a casualty of the violence he incited.”
It prompted a story from right-wing outlet Breitbart News as well as a denunciation from the National Republican Congressional Committee.
The reposts were taken down, and Harvey’s Instagram account has since been deactivated. “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.
Carson’s office has received multiple death threats recently and has especially seen a wave of “hateful, violent comments and threats” in the last week, Ellert said. “That is also unacceptable,” she said.
Ball State investigating employees’ posts
Officials at Ball State University told the Star Press in Muncie that they are reviewing social media posts by two BSU employees concerning Kirk. “The posts do not reflect the culture of our campus nor the enduring values of the university,” the university said in a statement.
“The administration is gathering additional information about the posts in order to determine what discipline, if any, is appropriate and permissible under the First Amendment to the Constitution.”
Ball State has not responded to a request for comment regarding the status of the two employees.
Suzanne Swierc, Ball State’s director of health promotion and advocacy, called Kirk’s death “a tragedy” on her personal Facebook account and said she “can and (does) feel for his wife and children,” according to the Star Press.
She went on to say: “Charlie Kirk’s death is a reflection of the violence, fear and hatred he sowed. It does not excuse his death, AND it’s a sad truth.”
Also drawing reaction was a Facebook post by Felicia Gray, a Ball State assistant lecturer in elementary education. In response to another person’s posting, Gray said Kirk’s killing “feels like karma paid a visit.”
“He was quoted as saying mass shootings are the process (sic) you pay for the second amendment and it was worth it,” she wrote, according to the Star Press. “Don’t go clutching your pearls… what the hell do you people expect?”
Indiana child services lawyer resigns
Attorney Holly DeNeve resigned from the Indiana Department of Child Services following a comment she made about Kirk’s killing, according to a statement the agency posted on X.
A screenshot of a social media post from DeNeve said: “Today was a real pain in the neck (winking emoji) but I survived,” with attribution to another person. IndyStar has not been able to confirm the screenshot’s validity.
The comment made was “in poor taste,” according to DCS, and DeNeve was no longer working as of Sept. 12.
“As public servants, state employees are held to a higher standard of conduct and ethics,” reads the agency’s statement, posted Sept. 13. “That is certainly the case at the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) where child welfare and safety are paramount.”
Muncie human rights leader resigns
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.
In a series of responses, Knipp indicated the killing of Kirk was “well needed retribution in my opinion,” according to the Star Press. Knipp wrote that Kirk “deserved this, and I hope he is only the first!”
“It is time they reap the hate, fear and violence they have sown! This man IS the cause in this circumstance. He is neither a victim or a hero,” Knipp wrote. He also suggested the political divide in the nation represents a civil war.
Several members of the Muncie City Council, which appointed him as president, had earlier issued statements indicating they would schedule a meeting to dismiss Knipp from his commission post if he did not resign.
Douglas Walker of the Star Press in Muncie contributed to this report.
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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: Are Hoosiers losing their jobs over Charlie Kirk posts? What we know
Reporting by Cate Charron and Marissa Meador, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
