Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk
WASHINGTON — A wave of firings since conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s murder has brought a harsh reminder that workers’ free speech rights go only as far as their bosses allow.
TV commentators, airline workers, a nurse, police officers, teachers and others have faced suspensions or lost their jobs.
kAm%@A %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@? @77:4:2=D 2?5 @E96C z:C< 2==:6D 92G6 G@H65 E@ 6IA@D6 2?J@?6 H9@ 4@?5@?6D E96 <:==:?8 2?5 6?DFC6 E96J A2J 2 AC:46 — E9@F89 D@>6 A6@A=6 H9@ 92G6 366? 7:C65 :?D:DE E96J C6;64E 3@E9 E96 G:@=6?46 2?5 z:C<’D G:6HD @? C246[ 86?56C ?@C>D 2?5 @E96C 9@E\3FEE@? :DDF6D]k^Am
kAm“(96? J@F D66 D@>6@?6 46=63C2E:?8 r92C=:6’D >FC56C[ 42== E96> @FE[” ‘:46 !C6D:56?E ys ‘2?46 D2:5 $6AE] `d H9:=6 8F6DE 9@DE:?8 %96 r92C=:6 z:C< $9@H] “r2== E96:C 6>A=@J6C] (6 5@?’E 36=:6G6 😕 A@=:E:42= G:@=6?46[ 3FE H6 5@ 36=:6G6 😕 4:G:=:EJ] p?5 E96C6 😀 ?@ 4:G:=:EJ 😕 E96 46=63C2E:@? @7 A@=:E:42= 2DD2DD:?2E:@?]”k^Am
kAmtC:? r@J=6[ 2 u:CDE p>6?5>6?E 6IA6CE 2E pC:K@?2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ[ D2:5 E96 7:C:?8D 4@?7=:4E H:E9 “E96 A9:=@D@A9J @7 7C66 6IAC6DD:@?” — 3FE ?@E H:E9 E96 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= C:89E @7 7C66 DA6649[ H9:49 @?=J AC@E64ED 282:?DE 8@G6C?>6?E :?E6C76C6?46]k^Am
kAm“x7 2 A6CD@? H@C<:?8 7@C 2 AC:G2E6 4@CA@C2E:@? 😀 7:C65 32D65 @? H92E E96J A@DE65 3642FD6 E96 4@CA@C2E:@? 36=:6G6D :E C67=64ED A@@C=J @? E96>[ E96? E96C6’D ?@ 8@G6C?>6?E 24E:@? E96C6[” D96 D2:5] “%96J 5@?’E 92G6 u:CDE p>6?5>6?E AC@E64E:@? 282:?DE E96:C AC:G2E6 6>A=@J6C’D 24E:@?D]”k^Am
kAmz:C<[ b`[ H2D D9@E 2?5 <:==65 $6AE] `_ H9:=6 DA62<:?8 2E &E29 ‘2==6J &?:G6CD:EJ] !C@D64FE@CD D2:5 %F6D52J E96J H:== D66< E96 562E9 A6?2=EJ 7@C DFDA64E %J=6C #@3:?D@?[ E96 aa\J62C\@=5 H9@ 2FE9@C:E:6D D2J E@=5 9:D C@@>>2E6 2?5 @E96CD E92E 96 H2D E96 D9@@E6C]k^Am
kAmz:C<[ H9@ =:G65 😕 !9@6?:I[ 4@\7@F?565 %FC?:?8 !@:?E &$p 2?5 3F:=E :E :?E@ 2 H:56=J :?7=F6?E:2= 4@?D6CG2E:G6 J@FE9 @C82?:K2E:@? H:E9 492AE6CD 2E 9F?5C65D @7 4@==686D]k^Am
kAm!C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A @C56C65 7=28D E@ 92=7\DE277 2?5 G:8:=D DACF?8 FA 😕 !9@6?:I 2?5 @? 42>AFD6D 2C@F?5 E96 4@F?ECJ] qFE D@>6 A6@A=6 H9@ H6C6 ?@E 72?D H6?E AF3=:4 😕 564=2C:?8 E96:C 5:D2AAC@G2= @7 9:D A@=:E:4D 2?5 C96E@C:4]k^Am
kAmx? pC:K@?2[ v6C2=5 q@FC8F6E H2D 7:C65 2D 2? }qp C6A@CE6C 7@C !9@6?:I\32D65 !w}) $A@CED 27E6C 2 D6C:6D @7 A@DED C67FE:?8 E96 @FEA@FC:?8 @7 AC2:D6] w6 42==65 z:C< 2 3:8@E H9@ H2D “DA6H:?8 92E67F= C96E@C:4 @? 2 52:=J 32D:D]”k^Am
kAm“#67FD:?8 E@ >@FC? 2 =:76 56G@E65 E@ E92E 42FD6 😀 ?@E E96 D2>6 E9:?8 2D 46=63C2E:?8 8F? G:@=6?46[” q@FC8F6E A@DE65 D9@CE=J 367@C6 9:D 7:C:?8]k^Am
Gerald Bourguet was fired as an NBA reporter for Phoenix-based PHNX Sports after a series of posts that were critical of Charlie Kirk. A GoFundMe account started on Bourguet’s behalf had raised $17,704 as of Sept. 19.
kAmr@?D6CG2E:G6 :?7=F6?46C {2FC2 {@@>6C 2?5 @E96CD 92G6 6?4@FC2865 z:C< DFAA@CE6CD E@ AFE 2 DA@E=:89E @? 2?J@?6 H9@ E96J D2J 46=63C2E6D E96 >FC56C] ~E96CD 92G6 D2:5 E96J’G6 4@==64E65 E6?D @7 E9@FD2?5D @7 6I2>A=6D]k^Am
kAm|2?J @7 E9@D6 H9@ 92G6 =@DE E96:C ;@3D 2C6 😕 AF3=:4\724:?8 C@=6D 2?5 >256 E96:C 4@>>6?ED 😕 2 G6CJ AF3=:4 H2J] |$}qr 4@>>6?E2E@C |2EE96H s@H5 H2D 2>@?8 E96 7:CDE]k^Am
kAmqFE >2?J 2C6 ?@E AF3=:4 7:8FC6D 2?5 925 ?@ >682A9@?6 @C ?6EH@C< 2F5:6?46 H96? E96J G6?E65 E96:C A6CD@?2= E2<6 @? E96 =2E6 24E:G:DE]k^Am
kAm}@?6 @7 E92E >2<6D 2 5:776C6?46 😕 E6C>D @7 7C66 DA6649 C:89ED 2?5 ;@3 D64FC:EJ[ 244@C5:?8 E@ u:CDE p>6?5>6?E 2?5 =23@C =2H 6IA6CED]k^Am
kAmt>A=@J>6?E 4@?EC24ED 2?5 =23@C =2H >2J @776C AC@E64E:@?[ D2:5 y@D6A9 #FDD@>2??@[ 2 C6E:C65 p$& >65:2 =2H AC@76DD@C] qFE 😕 86?6C2=[ 96 D2:5[ “t>A=@J6CD 42? 564:56 H9@ E96J 5@ 2?5 5@ ?@E H2?E H@C<:?8 7@C E96>]”k^Am
kAmw6 2?5 @E96C =682= 6IA6CED 6>A92D:K65 E92E E96 u:CDE p>6?5>6?E — 8F2C2?E66:?8 7C665@> @7 DA6649 — AC@E64ED 282:?DE 8@G6C?>6?E :?E6C76C6?46[ ?@E AF?:E:G6 24E:@? 3J 2 AC:G2E6 6>A=@J6C]k^Am
Former MSNBC political commentator Matthew Dowd was among the first high-profile figures who lost their jobs for remarks made in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
kAm|$}qr 7:C65 s@H5 27E6C 96 D2:5 @? 2:C — D9@CE=J 27E6C E96 D9@@E:?8 — E92E z:C<’D C96E@C:4 925 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ 2? 2E>@DA96C6 @7 92E6]k^Am
kAm“x 2=H2JD 8@ 324< E@[ 92E67F= E9@F89ED =625 E@ 92E67F= H@C5D[ H9:49 E96? =625 E@ 92E67F= 24E:@?D[” 96 D2:5] “p?5 x E9:?< E92E 😀 E96 6?G:C@?>6?E H6 2C6 :?]”k^Am
kAm%96 ?6EH@C< 42==65 9:D C6>2C
kAm#FDD@>2??@ 42==65 E96 7:C:?8 2? 24E @7 “<@HE@H:?8” E@ A@=:E:42= AC6DDFC6[ 255:?8 E92E s@H5’D 4@>>6?ED DECF4< 9:> 2D “H92E >2?J H@F=5 D66 2D 2 C62D@?23=6 2DD6DD>6?E” @7 z:C<’D DE2?46D 2?5 :>A24E @? E96 ?2E:@?’D A@=:E:4D]k^Am
kAm“(6 2C6 D66:?8 >@C6 @C82?:K2E:@?D 762C7F= @7 @776?5:?8 2?J@?6[ 6DA64:2==J %CF>A 2?5 E96 |pvp F?:G6CD6[” #FDD@>2??@ D2:5] “%9:D 😀 2 4@>>@? DEC2E68J @7 2FE9@C:E2C:2?Di D:=6?46 4C:E:4D[ E96 >65:2 2?5 :?DE:EFE:@?D @7 65F42E:@?]”k^Am
kAmq@FC8F6E 2?5 @E96CD H9@ 92G6 =@DE ;@3D D2J E96J H6C6?’E 46=63C2E:?8 z:C<’D 562E9[ @C 6G6? 2C8F:?8 — 2D >@C6 E92? 2 76H z:C< 4C:E:4D 92G6 — E92E 96 C62A65 H92E 96 D@H65 3J DAC625:?8 5:G:D:@? 2?5 5676?5:?8 >2I:>2= 8F? C:89ED]k^Am
kAmu=@C:52 pE=2?E:4 &?:G6CD:EJ A=2465 2 AC@76DD@C @? =62G6 7@C D92C:?8 A@DED @? ) E92E 56D4C:365 z:C< 2D “C24:DE” 2?5 “EC2?DA9@3:4]”k^Am
kAm%9@D6 2C6 G:6HD D92C65 3J >2?J s6>@4C2ED 2?5 @E96C 4C:E:4D[ 32D65 @? 2 ?F>36C @7 z:C<’D 4@>>6?ED DF49 2D 9:D DF886DE:@?D E92E q=24< 2:C=:?6 A:=@ED 2?5 $FAC6>6 r@FCE yFDE:46 z6E2?;: qC@H? y24
kAm(2D9:?8E@? !@DE 4@=F>?:DE z2C6? pEE:29 H2D 7:C65 27E6C 2 A@DE 6IAC6DD:?8 A6DD:>:D> E92E E96 z:C< 2DD2DD:?2E:@? H@F=5 =625 E@ 76H6C D9@@E:?8D @C =6DD A@=:E:42= G:@=6?46[ 3642FD6 “H6 =:G6 😕 2 4@F?ECJ E92E 2446AED H9:E6 49:=5C6? 36:?8 >2DD24C65 3J 8F? G:@=6?46] }@E ;FDE 2446AED[ 3FE H@CD9:AD G:@=6?46]”k^Am
kAmpEE:29 2EEC:3FE65 96C @FDE6C E@ “DA62<:?8 @FE 282:?DE A@=:E:42= G:@=6?46[ C24:2= 5@F3=6 DE2?52C5D[ 2?5 p>6C:42’D 2A2E9J E@H2C5 8F?D]”k^Am
kAm|:55=6 $E2E6 %6??6DD66 &?:G6CD:EJ 7:C65 2? 2DD:DE2?E 562? @7 DEF56?ED H9@ 925 A@DE65 E92E D96 925 “+t#~ DJ>A2E9J” 7@==@H:?8 z:C<’D 562E9] %96 7:C:?8 42>6 27E6C $6?] |2CD92 q=24<3FC?[ #\%6??][ 56>2?565 E96 562?’D C6>@G2=]k^Am
kAm$6?] %65 rCFK[ 2 %6I2D 4@?D6CG2E:G6 2?5 2 w2CG2C5\EC2:?65 =2HJ6C H9@ 4=6C<65 7@C E96 =2E6 r9:67 yFDE:46 (:==:2> #69?BF:DE[ 5676?565 E96 7:C:?8D 😕 E96 H2<6 @7 z:C<’D >FC56C]k^Am
kAm%96 u:CDE p>6?5>6?E[ 96 D2:5 2E 2 7@CF> 9@DE65 3J !@=:E:4@[ >62?D E92E “J@F 42??@E 36 AC@D64FE65 7@C DA6649[ 6G6? :7 :E 😀 6G:= 2?5 3:8@E65 2?5 HC@?8” 3FE E96C6 😀 ?@ AC@E64E:@? 282:?DE “?2>:?8 2?5 D92>:?8]”k^Am
kAmx? DA@CED[ E96 r2C@=:?2 !2?E96CD 7:C65 2 4@>>F?:42E:@?D 4@@C5:?2E@C H9@ A@DE65 2 4@>>6?E E92E 2==F565 E@ z:C<’D G:6H E92E E96 @442D:@?2= D9@@E:?8 H2D 2? 2446AE23=6 EC256@77 E@ 6?DFC6 3C@25 $64@?5 p>6?5>6?E 8F? C:89ED]k^Am
kAm“(9J 2C6 J’2== D25n *@FC >2? D2:5 :E H2D H@CE9 :E…” E96 7@C>6C !2?E96CD 6>A=@J66 HC@E6]k^Am
kAmpEE@C?6J v6?6C2= !2> q@?5: D2:5 @? 2 A@542DE |@?52J E92E 2? ~77:46 s6A@E H@C<6C 😕 |:49:82? H9@ C67FD65 E@ AC:?E 7=:6CD 7@C 2 z:C< G:8:= 4@F=5 7246 7656C2= 492C86D] %96 H@C<6C H2D 7:C65]k^Am
kAm“qFD:?6DD6D 42??@E 5:D4C:>:?2E6[” q@?5: D2:5] “x7 J@F H2?E E@ 8@ 😕 2?5 AC:?E A@DE6CD H:E9 r92C=:6’D A:4EFC6D @? E96> 7@C 2 G:8:=[ J@F 92G6 E@ =6E E96> 5@ E92E] (6 42? AC@D64FE6 J@F 7@C E92E]”k^Am
kAmq@?5: 2=D@ DF886DE65 2? :>A6?5:?8 4C24<5@H? @? 92E6 DA6649 — H9:49 %CF>A 2?5 @E96CD 😕 9:D 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 92G6 567:?65 AC:>2C:=J @C 6?E:C6=J 2D =67E:DE 2EE24
kAm$@>6 @7 E96 42D6D E92E 92G6 4@>6 E@ =:89E :?G@=G65 4@>>6?ED E92E H6C6?’E H:56=J D92C65 2?5 C6>2:? @H? @?=J E@ 2 92?57F= @7 A6@A=6]k^Am
kAmr=6>D@? &?:G6CD:EJ D2:5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^I]4@>^r=6>D@?&?:G^DE2EFD^`hefhbh_ccg`ddc_eeaQ E2C86ElQ03=2?
Clemson University announced the dismissal of two faculty members for social media posts regarding Charlie Kirk.

