Teachers in public schools across the U.S. are facing backlash over social media posts responding to the assassination of Charlie Kirk last week.
Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent conservative figure, was shot and killed when addressing a large audience at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was identified days later.
As news of the incident circulated, several educators took to social media, and their posts quickly drew criticism, prompting calls for their dismissal.
One of them, Samantha Marengo, a special education teacher at King Elementary School in Framingham, Massachusetts, shared a video of herself singing “God Bless America” next to a news segment about Kirk’s death on her Instagram account. This video was later highlighted by Libs of Tiktok.
In response to the situation, Principal Robert Tremblay stated that Marengo was on leave following an internal review. He emphasized the district’s commitment to creating a safe and respectful environment for all, without tolerance for violence or hate.
Another educator, Patrick Freivald, who teaches physics at Naples Central School District in New York, reportedly reacted to Kirk’s death by mocking it in a Facebook post, referring to Kirk in a derogatory manner. The principal of Naples Central, Kevin Swartz, confirmed that unidentified teachers were placed on leave after an investigation.
In Pennsylvania, Christopher Condon, a technology education teacher, was also under scrutiny for sharing a provocative post about Kirk after his death. The Crawford Central School District stated that Condon had been placed on administrative leave, reiterating their disapproval of the post.
In South Carolina, Wynn Boriek, a social studies teacher, made an inappropriate remark about Kirk’s children, which resulted in his termination after an inquiry by Greenville County Schools.
Matthew Kargol, an arts teacher in Iowa, posted “1 Nazi Down” following the murder and is currently on paid administrative leave, facing an emergency hearing soon.
Another troubling comment came from Joanna Schweder, an intervention specialist in Ohio, who wished everlasting suffering on Kirk after his death. The district confirmed they were investigating the matter and that Schweder was on leave.
School districts in Maryland and Texas are also looking into similar cases of educators allegedly celebrating Kirk’s assassination online. Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that over 100 teachers could face suspension of their educational accreditation for encouraging violence in the wake of Kirk’s assassination.
Concerns have been raised about the implications of “cancel culture” in the aftermath of Kirk’s murder. A free speech advocacy group highlighted that the assassination itself was an affront to freedom of expression, suggesting that the reactions of some educators added another layer of tragedy to the event.
Kirk’s death has brought attention to the rising threats of violence faced by lawmakers and public figures across the country.
