"The campus firings are too numerous to describe in full, but consider the case of Darren Michael, professor of theater at Austin Peay State University, who was fired because he reposted on social media a 2023 Newsweek headline: "Charlie Kirk Says Gun Deaths 'Unfortunately' Worth It to Keep 2nd Amendment." Tennessee's U.S. senator Marsha Blackburn reposted Michael's view on X, asking the university to take action."
"Austin Peay administrators declared, "A faculty member of Austin Peay State University reshared a post on social media that was insensitive, disrespectful and interpreted by many as propagating justification for unlawful death. Such actions do not align with Austin Peay's commitment to mutual respect and human dignity. The university deems these actions unacceptable and has terminated the faculty member." This is an utterly appalling excuse to punish anyone, and certainly not an adequate reason for a university to terminate a professor without any due process."
"There is absolutely no rule at Austin Peay banning people from being insensitive or disrespectful, since any rule like that would clearly violate the First Amendment. And the idea that posting a headline quoting Kirk's views would somehow justify his murder is insane. It's perfectly legitimate to criticize anyone for favoring or opposing gun control. This critique of Kirk is anything but pro-murder."
More professors in the United States were fired for controversial views in a single week than in any other week in American history. Many campus firings followed Charlie Kirk's assassination. Darren Michael, a theater professor at Austin Peay State University, was dismissed after resharing a 2023 Newsweek headline quoting Kirk, following a repost and call for action by Senator Marsha Blackburn. Austin Peay characterized the reshared post as insensitive and terminated the faculty member. No university rule bans insensitivity, and such a rule would violate the First Amendment. The dismissals occurred without due process and lacked substantial justification.
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