Georgia Teacher Sues for Reinstatement After Controversial Comments
A Georgia teacher, who was a finalist for Teacher of the Year, is suing for reinstatement after making remarks about the late conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. She described him as a “horrible person” and a “hateful fascist,” asserting her comments are shielded by the First Amendment.
Michelle Mickens, a high school English teacher with 20 years of experience, shared her thoughts on Kirk’s death on her private Facebook page shortly after he was murdered while speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University.
In her post, Mickens stated, “I don’t condone violence of any kind, and I certainly don’t condone this, but he was a horrible person, a fascist filled with hatred for anyone who was different from himself. It’s sad that we live in a country where gun violence is rampant, but the world is a little safer without him.”
The following day, Mickens was summoned to the office of Principal Bill Sampson, where both he and Superintendent Beverly Levine informed her that the district had received complaints about her online comments. However, they assured her that she wasn’t in any trouble, according to her lawsuit filed in federal court.
The situation escalated when a former high school classmate reportedly shared a screenshot of Mickens’ Facebook post on X, alongside the school’s contact information and Sampson’s email address.
This prompted the classmate to urge online users to express their opinions about her teachings, reflecting a growing backlash.
When Mickens met again with Sampson and Levine, they suggested she delete her comments and issue an apology. She was sent home early after mentioning she wanted to consult with a lawyer regarding the lawsuit.
Subsequently, Mickens was informed not to report to work the following week and discovered she could not access her school email account.
Her lawsuit claims that a union representative advised her that if she chose not to resign, the district would attempt to terminate her employment.
In court documents, it was revealed that during a school board meeting, Levine announced that they had already found a replacement for Mickens. She is seeking her job back along with unspecified damages.
Attempts to reach Mickens’ attorneys and the school administrators for comments were unsuccessful.
