The Miamisburg School Board in Ohio convened on Thursday to decide whether two teachers should keep their jobs following the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, at Utah Valley University on September 10th.
Steve Ailward, the band teacher, allegedly made a Facebook post implying that Kirk, who was 31, somehow brought his own assassination upon himself. Meanwhile, social studies teacher Rachel O’Connor was recorded suggesting that Kirk was “a terrible person,” and the video of her remarks has gone viral on social media, according to reports.
Both teachers are apparently standing by their perspectives, believing they should maintain their influential roles in shaping young minds.
Tony Huey, a parent and Miamisburg alumnus who had O’Connor as a teacher, has started an online petition advocating for her dismissal. He shared with a local outlet that her comments about Kirk didn’t surprise him, saying many parents, including himself, are uncomfortable with educators making derogatory remarks about public figures, especially in light of a violent incident. Huey hopes the school board makes the right decision.
“If they don’t, I might have to escalate this, perhaps to the next Miamisburg City Council meeting,” he added.
The Miamisburg School Board is scheduled to meet at 6 PM on Thursday.
A leader in the conservative movement, Kirk was brutally killed in front of a large crowd of university students. In light of his death, several teachers nationwide have faced termination or suspension for comments that appeared to celebrate the tragedy.
A prominent figure in one of the largest teachers’ unions has compared conservatives to Nazis shortly after Kirk’s assassination, further intensifying the accusations and backlash within the community.
The individual arrested in connection with Kirk’s murder is 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who authorities describe as a radical leftist with a romantic involvement with someone he identifies as transgender.
