The American Federation of Teachers of Texas (AFT) announced on Tuesday their intention to sue the Texas Education Agency (TEA), claiming an “unlawful investigation” of educators due to social media posts regarding Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
In September, Texas Secretary of Education Mike Moras issued a letter to the state school superintendent, indicating an investigation into school officials who were accused of posting “reprehensible and inappropriate content” related to the death of the Turning Point USA founder.
Moras stated that such posts might violate the Educator Code of Ethics and promised a thorough review of each case to assess potential misconduct. He emphasized that while free speech is a crucial right, it doesn’t justify celebrating or inciting violence against differing views.
The AFT’s complaint claims that since the letter was distributed, several members have been put on administrative leave, reprimanded, or even terminated for their posts, which they argue infringes on First Amendment rights.
“Somewhere along the line, our state’s leaders lost their way,” remarked Texas AFT President Zeff Capo. He added that certain politicians and bureaucrats in Texas seem to feel it benefits their careers to infringe on the free speech rights of educators, creating a climate where teachers and their families fear for their jobs and reputations.
Randi Weingarten, the National AFT President, also condemned the TEA’s actions. She expressed disappointment that Texas authorities, unlike their counterparts in Utah, seemed to exploit the tragedy surrounding Mr. Kirk’s death instead of allowing it to resonate.
Weingarten articulated that the measures taken by the state appear aimed at defaming educators and dividing communities, while denying children critical learning opportunities. She insisted that becoming a teacher doesn’t strip individuals of their constitutional rights, emphasizing the necessity of those rights for all Americans.
The AFT is pursuing a permanent injunction against the TEA’s policies and investigations. Meanwhile, the TEA has opted not to comment on the situation.
In recent weeks, numerous public school teachers across the nation have faced disciplinary action or termination after making controversial social media posts that seemed to celebrate Kirk’s death. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott had previously announced that over 100 teachers would have their licenses suspended after being found to have encouraged violence following Kirk’s assassination.
