A left-leaning columnist announced on Monday that she was terminated from the Washington Post due to a social media post related to political violence following the assassination of Charlie Kirk and a school shooting in Colorado.
“In the wake of the tragic events in Utah and Colorado, I condemned the normalization of political violence in America. I criticized the usual responses—those cliched expressions of ‘thoughts and prayers’—which seem to make gun violence a regular part of our lives,” she noted. Attiah expressed concerns about a lack of accountability for those perpetuating such violence.
Kirk, known for his conservative activism, was killed at a university event, while the Colorado shooting injured two students and resulted in the attacker’s death.
Attiah shared several screenshots from her posts on Bluesky, where she discussed aspects contributing to violence in America, suggesting that some narratives perpetuate hatred and aggression.
In her remarks, Attiah reflected on the broader issue of marginalized voices, particularly noting that she felt she was the last black opinion columnist at the Post.
“What I experienced is part of a larger trend where voices that critique the status quo are being silenced across various sectors, which is worrying and reminiscent of a dark historical pattern,” she contended.
She claimed her dismissal stemmed from her opposition to political violence and perceived biases around race, describing the accusations against her as unfounded and unjust.
Having joined the Washington Post in 2014, Attiah’s recent issues with management seem to highlight ongoing tensions within the media regarding editorial independence and social media conduct.
