Posted on 09/27/2025 2:43:07 AM PDT by Libloather
After several school districts and universities across the nation fired or suspended faculty for their controversial social media posts about the murder of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk, some of these educators are now taking legal action, claiming their free speech rights were violated.
On Wednesday, a federal judge ordered the University of South Dakota to temporarily reinstate professor Michael Hook, after the board of regents recommended his termination over his social media post responding to Kirk’s killing.
Hook, a tenured fine arts professor, wrote on his personal Facebook account that he didn’t give a "flying f---" about Kirk, calling him a "hate-spreading Nazi." He deleted the post three hours later, but according to his lawsuit, the board of regents moved swiftly to fire him after prominent state officials called for his removal. Hook’s complaint alleges that the university retaliated against him for exercising his First Amendment rights by commenting, in his private capacity, on a matter of national discourse.
**SNIP**
Jessie Appleby, an attorney with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), said the courts make sharp distinctions between speech tied to an employee’s job duties and speech by educators in their private capacity.
"Professors and any government employees have a First Amendment protected right to speak as citizens on matters of public concern," Appleby said. "When professors post on social media about something like Charlie Kirk’s assassination, that speech is protected by the First Amendment."
"Political speech is considered the zenith of First Amendment protections," she added. Regarding calls for violence, "true threats and incitement to violence" are not protected, but "rhetorical hyperbole" or endorsing violence in "general" terms are protected speech, she explained.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
A federal judge said that schools can’t fire workers who applaud school shootings.
"Huge" is a synonym for very large, as in "He has a huge gap in his vocabulary".
No charge.
You must be a Noob to not recognize that. Oh, the Huge Manatee!
Homework: The 2009 FreeRepublic Lexicon (Lingo, Dictionary, Lore Handbook)
Then they should be sure to not have their workplace mentioned in their profile.
If I were their employer, I would have to consider such a strong, negative reaction to the assassination of a conservative as an indication that conservative students might face significant bias in how such professors treat them and their grades. I would also have to consider how the conservative students would feel being in the classroom of those who condone assassination of people who don’t agree with their politics.
Even if one is fired, how is his free speech rights taken from him? The government isn’t charging him with anything. He just has to find another job.
If I were a student on that campus, I'd give him a "Heil Hook!" whenever I passed by.
Regards,
Since the 1st ammendment states that congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, my question is what law did congress make that affects this case?
Hook, a tenured fine arts professor, wrote on his personal Facebook account that he didn’t give a “flying f-—” about Kirk, calling him a “hate-spreading Nazi.”
Out of the mouth of a POS.
You fell in a trap.
“Hugh and series” is a very old meme here.
Now you know.
No charge. LOL
A federal judge just said a professor can’t be fired for LYING to his students.
What is the Judge going to do about the legal liability for a school with employees that celebrate school shootings?
Insurers are going to get involved.
A professor who doesn’t know what a Nazi is should not be teaching.
Say the “N” word and see what happens.
Don’t forget the Viking Cats!
Hostile Learning Environment
“He just has to find another job.”
Gee, a tenured fine arts professor. Should be able to pick and choose where he wants to work. McDonalds, Wendy’s, Walmart. Lots a places looking for good employees but it’s not like there’s a shortage of Fine Arts Professors.
When did Congress change it’s name to The Board of Regents?
I see you are a realist about Leftist attachment to and advocacy for Free Speech.
The right can have a field day with this ruling. 🤣
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