CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – A Clay County District Schools employee has been suspended after a post on social media that referenced the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the school district confirmed Friday.
The post in question, purportedly made by a teacher at Ridgeview Elementary School, included a link to a story from the St. Augustine Record saying that Kirk had been killed in a shooting at a college campus event in Utah and included the caption (which was left unedited by News4JAX): “This may not be the obituary. We were all hoping to wake up to, but this is a close second for me.”
Recommended Videos
News4JAX asked the school district if it was aware of the post, if the person who made the post was a school employee, and if they faced any possible disciplinary action.
The district at first responded that it was “aware of a recent social media post that has drawn attention in our community,” and that the human resources department is “actively reviewing the matter and taking action in line with district policy.”
The spokesperson later confirmed that the teacher had been suspended.
“The views expressed in this post do not reflect the values or beliefs of our schools or district, and we do not condone the content in any way,” a district spokesperson said in a statement to News4JAX.
News4JAX has reviewed the post, but we are choosing not to name the employee because they have not been accused of a crime.
The post has been shared widely on conservative media websites and Facebook pages and has been met with outrage.
The Florida Department of Education on Thursday sent out a message to Florida superintendents addressing social media posts about Kirk.
“It has been brought to my attention that some Florida educators have posted despicable comments on social media regarding the horrific assassination of Charlie Kirk. These few are not a reflection of the great, high-quality teachers who make up the vast majority of Florida’s educators. Nevertheless, I will be conducting an investigation of every educator who engages in this vile, sanctionable behavior,” Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas wrote in the memo. “Although educators have First Amendment rights, these rights do not extend without limit into their professional duties. An educator’s personal views that are made public may undermine the trust of the students and families that they serve.”
Kirk was shot in broad daylight as he spoke about social issues at a Utah Valley University courtyard. The shooting was captured on grisly videos circulating on social media, which show Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone when suddenly a shot rings out. Kirk can be seen reaching up with his right hand as blood gushes from the left side of his neck. Stunned spectators gasp and scream before people start running away.
President Donald Trump, who was joined by Democrats in condemning the violence, said he would award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the U.S.
The shooter, a 22-year-old who fired a single shot from a distant roof, has been captured, the FBI announced Friday.