Earlier this month, Charlie Kirk was tragically assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University. Since then, thousands have come together in prayer and support for Charlie’s family and to promote his legacy. Countless prayer vigils sprung up all across the country, videos honoring his memory garnered tens of millions of views online, and his funeral is reported to have drawn over 200,000 attendees.
Yet not everyone has been mourning.
Though there are thousands from different backgrounds and political convictions seeking to honor Charlie’s life and legacy, there are many who are rejoicing in his vicious murder.
Disturbing videos have emerged of men and women reveling in the murder of Charlie Kirk. Among the most grotesque are those that depict songs, chants, and even dancing to the news of Kirk’s death.
Countless firings have also taken place over controversial comments—some bordering on justification of the murder of Kirk—from media personalities like MSNBC’s Matthew Dowd, the Washington Post’s Karen Attiah, and most recently Jimmy Kimmel of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
But these firings did not remain purely in the lane of media. Since the assassination, teachers, firefighters, and military members have faced disciplinary action over their social media comments regarding Charlie Kirk’s death. Even private groups like fast food chains, airlines, and law firms have parted ways with employees for this same reason. These firings raise larger questions about free speech, the rights of employers, and the deep-seated political division of our day.
Some say these firings are a symptom of so-called “cancel culture.” Conservatives however insist they are merely holding those to account who say false and vicious things about the late Charlie Kirk and the events surrounding his assassination—a practice some are now dubbing “consequence culture.”
The term is an accurate one. Words have consequences. And when horrible public statements are made that celebrate or justify murder, employers maintain the right to terminate employment.
This is especially true in the instance of government employees. One of the first firings that took place in the wake of September 10th was Middle Tennessee State University Associate Dean Laura Sosh-Lightsy. Sosh-Lightsy stated frankly that she felt “ZERO sympathy” for Charlie Kirk, who, in her words “spoke his fate into existence.”
Such statements are alarming from anyone, especially from a leader of a university. Universities are a place where ideas ought to be freely exchanged without the threat of political violence or its subsequent justification.
However, Sosh-Lightsy was not the only university employee to make such harsh comments. Within Kentucky, university employees have made similar claims. Rep. T.J. Roberts posted a screenshot of a troubling post from a University of Louisville employee. Alex Muckler, Assistant Director of Admissions at UofL’s Brandeis School of Law, insinuated that Charlie Kirk essentially had it coming. Muckler reposted a quote from Charlie Kirk in 2023 that stated that gun deaths were an unfortunate cost of Second Amendment rights. She captioned the post “Presented without comment.”
Rep. Roberts as well as State Sen. Lindsey Tichenor called for the termination of Muckler’s employment—and rightly so. UofL’s vision statement declares their commitment to “celebrate diversity, foster equity and strive for inclusion.” However, one questions how serious this commitment is, given their employment of someone who minimizes the tragedy of a political assassination.
Dr. Kaila Adia Story, Full Professor of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, with a dual appointment in the Department of Pan-African Studies at UofL and the Audre Lorde Chair in Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, is another professor who insinuated that Charlie Kirk may have deserved this assassination. In the wake of the assassination, Dr. Story posted to her Instagram a screenshot from a Facebook account that referred to Charlie Kirk as a “blatant racist.” Dr. Story posted this screenshot alongside a quote from Robert Jones Jr. which said “We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist.” If “disagreement in love” is no longer an option for Dr. Story, it would seem hate-fueled rejoicing is the only thing left in the wake of Kirk’s death.
On X, Dr. Ricky Jones, Professor and Chair of UofL’s Department of Pan-African Studies, reposted on September 12th a post that declared “Racism is not a difference of opinion.” The insinuation with this is also that Charlie Kirk had it coming due to his alleged “racism.” The Courier-Journal reports that Jones makes $120,956 per year.
At this time, Muckler, Story, and Jones are still employed by UofL.
Universities are meant to be places where ideas can be exchanged freely without fear of violence. However, the provocative rhetoric by leaders of these institutions suggests otherwise. By failing to discipline its faculty, the University of Louisville is declaring to students that framing the assassination of Charlie Kirk within the larger context of the so-called “oppression and denial” of the humanity of African Americans is acceptable—when in fact it’s an ideological delusion that dehumanizes those who hold conservative views and normalizes violence against them.