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More than 100 Texas educators are under investigation and could lose their teaching licenses for social media posts related to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, state officials said Monday.
The Texas Education Agency confirmed it is reviewing at least 180 complaints alleging that teachers posted messages online celebrating Kirk’s death or calling for violence. If the posts are found to violate the state’s educator code of ethics, the teachers could have their certifications revoked and be barred from teaching in public schools.
Gov. Greg Abbott condemned the behavior, calling it “abhorrent.” He said Texas would not tolerate teachers who “use their platforms to incite violence,” and directed the TEA to ensure swift disciplinary action. “Teachers who glorify violence have no place in our schools,” Abbott said.
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said the agency’s Educator Investigations Division had already begun reviewing complaints. “While all educators are held to a high standard of professionalism, there is a difference between comments made in poor taste and those that call for and incite further violence — the latter of which is clearly unacceptable,” Morath said.
He added he would recommend suspending certifications for those who violate the standards. Morath also sent a letter to superintendents reminding them that free speech protections do not extend to celebrating or promoting violence.
Some districts have already taken action. KTXS-TV reported that two teachers in the Wylie Independent School District have resigned following backlash over their social media posts.
In addition to K-12 schools in Texas, a Texas Tech student was arrested and expelled after mocking a Charlie Kirk vigil.
“The Texas Tech Police Department arrested a student for simple assault, which occurred on the west side of the Student Union Building (free speech area),” The Texas Tech Police Department said in a statement, according to Fox News. “The student was transported to the Lubbock County Jail.”
The university later released a statement that the student was no longer enrolled.
“Any behavior that denigrates victims of violence is reprehensible, has no place on our campus, and does not align with our values. Federal law prevents Texas Tech University from commenting on individual student conduct matters. We take all reported violations seriously and address them under university policy and the law,” the statement read.