In the wake of the murder of Charlie Kirk, an organized political effort has emerged: Political figures are mining social media for statements about the murder and demanding that state employees be fired or otherwise pushed out of their jobs because of their speech.
The American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina strongly condemns political violence, including the killing of Kirk. As we have been reminded multiple times this year in the United States, politically motivated killing not only takes a loved one from their family, but it endangers the free and democratic exchange of ideas.
To protect that same free exchange, we also condemn the targeted harassment of teachers, professors, and other public servants for political statements that they publish in their personal capacity. Our state cannot and should not respond to violence by infringing on the free speech rights guaranteed by the First Amendment.
“It is in the hard times, not the easy ones, when our commitment to American values is tested,” said Allen Chaney, Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina. “In the face of politicized and sometimes manufactured outrage, we call on school districts and university presidents to model the tolerance for upsetting speech that is demanded by the First Amendment so that they might instill that firmly-rooted American value in the next generation.”
In the less than 48 hours since a shooter killed Kirk at a university event in Utah, South Carolinians from across the political spectrum have offered their thoughts, remembrances, and analyses of Kirk’s career as a conservative activist. Almost immediately, some of the most powerful politicians in the state began using their influence and platforms to call for the firing of public educators whose statements offended their sensibilities.
Self-appointed speech police including Reps. Russell Fry and Nancy Mace spent time on September 11th calling school district superintendents and university presidents demanding that they fire employees for their speech based on screenshots passed around on social media. Lawmakers backed by the State Freedom Caucus Network, a dark money political interest group, have also been calling for firings, resuming an intimidation tactic that they piloted last year against educators in Anderson County. Some have already called for the firing of administrators and defunding of universities that don't bend to their will.
The American Civil Liberties Union and its state affiliates have a long history of defending free speech, including speech that offends local sensibilities. Core political speech is worth defending, especially when it is controversial.
If your free speech rights have been violated, sharing your experience can help shape and guide the work of the ACLU of South Carolina. For more information and a list of legal resources, visit aclusc.org/yourstory.
