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Florida biologist sues state agency over firing linked to social media post on Charlie Kirk's death
CBS Miami ^ | 10/1/2025 | Staff

Posted on 10/02/2025 11:59:15 AM PDT by simpson96

A biologist has filed a federal lawsuit challenging her firing by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission because of a post on a personal social media account after the murder of conservative leader Charlie Kirk.

Brittney Brown, who worked for the commission studying shorebirds and seabirds in the area of Tyndall Air Force Base in the Panhandle, alleges in the lawsuit that her firing on Sept. 15—five days after Kirk was shot during an appearance at a Utah university—violated her First Amendment rights.(snip)

The lawsuit said Brown was fired after reposting on her Instagram account a post from an account called "@whalefact." The post said, "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," according to the lawsuit.

(snip)the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Tallahassee, said Brown made the repost while on vacation on a "purely private" Instagram account. The lawsuit names as defendants Commission Executive Director Roger Young and Melissa Tucker, a division director described as Brown's "ultimate supervisor."

"Plaintiff's political statement does not condone Mr. Kirk's killing, nor does it call for further violence," the lawsuit said. "Mr. Kirk was a public figure widely known for his controversial political views, and his death is a matter of public concern."

The lawsuit alleged, "Instead of supporting plaintiff's First Amendment rights and those of other dissenting individuals,defendants rushed to capitulate to the Libs of TikTok heckler's veto and make a political example of Brown."(snip)

A copy of her Sept. 15 termination letter included in the lawsuit indicated she had an "Other Personal Services" position,a classification that does not include some of the protections that other employees receive.

(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: Comment #1 Removed by Moderator

To: simpson96

And I’m sure somewhere in her tweet history she said “You have freedom of speech… not freedom from consequences. Teehee”


2 posted on 10/02/2025 12:00:32 PM PDT by Skywise
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A copy of her Sept. 15 termination letter included in the lawsuit indicated she had an "Other Personal Services" position,a classification that does not include some of the protections that other employees receive.

Id she is an at will employee, no reason needs to be given - just fire her.

3 posted on 10/02/2025 12:03:49 PM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: 1Old Pro

Does she realize she’s confirming and doubling down on what a horrible person she is? Perhaps she’s good with it.


4 posted on 10/02/2025 12:10:31 PM PDT by TheDon (Remember the J6 political prisoners! Remember Ashli Babbitt!)
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To: TheDon
Does she realize she’s confirming and doubling down on what a horrible person she is? Perhaps she’s good with it.

They are oblivious.

5 posted on 10/02/2025 12:14:30 PM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: Skywise

Leftists want to be able to say WHATEVER they want with no consequence, but they’re more than willing to silence those who disagree with them.

That is the height of hypocrisy.

Too bad.

That sword cuts both ways. So she lost her job. She should be grateful nobody blew her away for expressing an opinion they didn’t like.


6 posted on 10/02/2025 12:22:15 PM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus….)
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To: Skywise

If she was under contract and if said contract stated conditions regarding behavior, comportment, etc for both on-the-job and off-the-job social activity, she is toast. The only winner will be the lawyers.


7 posted on 10/02/2025 12:29:07 PM PDT by ByteMercenary (Election 2020 was stolen by mail-in voting.)
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To: Skywise
Brittney Brown is a real hating piece of work.

Looks like an airhead:


8 posted on 10/02/2025 12:37:07 PM PDT by kiryandil (No one in AZ that voted for Trump voted for Gallego )
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To: Skywise

Isn’t Florida a “Right to Work” state?


9 posted on 10/02/2025 12:45:57 PM PDT by Bikkuri (We are all Charlie now. I am Charlie!)
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To: Skywise

I guess they don’t realize the 1st amendment lists things the government cannot do to you. It says nothing about the private sector.


10 posted on 10/02/2025 12:52:35 PM PDT by bk1000 (Banned from Breitbart)
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To: Skywise

“Plaintiff’s political statement does not condone Mr. Kirk’s killing,”

I think it does.

“nor does it call for further violence,”

Such a casual attitude about assassination suggests that more of the same is acceptable.


11 posted on 10/02/2025 1:03:21 PM PDT by ChessExpert (Infidels of the world unite against the evil that is Islam.)
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To: Skywise

That woman made light of - not just murder but - a school shooting murder.

If some judge allows her to continue to draw government money, it should be stipulated she can never come within 1,000 feet of a private or government school and never within 1,000 feet of children under the age of 18 when they (children) visit government lands.

She needs to be placed outside the camp and kept there; prohibited from having guns; knives, or bomb making materials.


12 posted on 10/02/2025 1:07:39 PM PDT by jeffersondem
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To: Skywise

This is just one of many more to come. Government agencies cannot fire people for expressing their viewpoints. I expect she will win.


13 posted on 10/02/2025 1:20:10 PM PDT by ggboss (Vote them out)
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To: ggboss

Is this e pressing a view point OR expressing utter HATE!! Seems to me that even government should not have to employ someone raging with hatred!!


14 posted on 10/02/2025 1:25:09 PM PDT by Trump Girl Kit Cat (Yosemite Sam raising hell )
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To: bk1000
It says nothing about the private sector.

She was fired from a state agency.
15 posted on 10/02/2025 1:31:07 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye." (John 2:5))
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To: Skywise

What the heck would a fish-kissing, college “biologist” know about religion or politics? The retarded skank needs to stay in her lane. What the hell about Charlie’s Free Speech rights? The skank seems to be cheering that one of her far left comrades made sure Charlie was murdered for using his freedom of speech. And the ho calls us Nazis.


16 posted on 10/02/2025 1:46:42 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (The Shumer Shutdown. The first step of Sandy Cortez's grab of Chunky Shoomer's job. LOL!)
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To: kiryandil

She looks like an America-hating skank. I’m surprised she isn’t a Dipstick Court Judgee.


17 posted on 10/02/2025 1:50:31 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (The Shumer Shutdown. The first step of Sandy Cortez's grab of Chunky Shoomer's job. LOL!)
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To: Skywise

If your gonna say something awful at least don’t use the backdrop of your employment to prop up your credibility.


18 posted on 10/02/2025 2:28:38 PM PDT by AndyTheBear (Certified smarter than average for my species)
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To: AndyTheBear

Britt is your typical lefty government employee who is an uncivil monster who hates humanity and civility. She needs to be fired if for no other reason than she likely made her comments while at “work”. What an absolutely worthless human being.


19 posted on 10/02/2025 3:04:43 PM PDT by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp?)
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To: ggboss

“This is just one of many more to come. Government agencies cannot fire people for expressing their viewpoints. I expect she will win.”
____________________________________________________________

Exactly. Anyone who gets fired for saying or posting something critical of a government official in their private capacity will ultimately win a lawsuit.

At the rate we’re going, lawyers representing these people will be advertising right alongside the Mesothelioma shysters.


20 posted on 10/02/2025 10:42:10 PM PDT by Bob Wills is still the king
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