Free speech lawsuits mount after Charlie Kirk assassination

6 hours ago

Lawsuits are mounting in the U.S. following the assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, revealing cases of people investigated, fired, or arrested for their online reactions.
Larry Bushart, a retired police officer, was arrested for a Facebook meme mocking Republican officials' mourning over Kirk, spending 37 days in jail before charges were dropped.
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) is representing Bushart and tracking at least 13 lawsuits related to 'Kirk-related speech' firings.
The American Federation of Teachers sued the Texas Education Agency for reporting teachers over 'inappropriate content' about Kirk, leading to 354 complaints and ongoing investigations.
Vice President Vance encouraged listeners to call out and report employers of those celebrating Kirk's death, raising legal questions about government coercion.
An art professor at the University of South Dakota faced termination for calling Kirk a 'hate-spreading Nazi' but was protected by a court order after the governor's intervention.

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