A Georgia teacher is making headlines for boldly asserting her First Amendment rights after facing suspension for her inflammatory remarks about conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. Michelle Mickens, a finalist for Teacher of the Year, is launching a legal battle to reclaim her position after expressing her opinion on Kirk’s tragic assassination.
Mickens, a seasoned high school English teacher with two decades of experience, took to her private Facebook page hours after Kirk was assassinated during a Turning Point USA event. In her post, she labeled Kirk a “horrible person” and a “fascist full of hate,” while also decrying the culture of gun violence. She said, “the world is a bit safer without him.” Such stark words have ignited a firestorm of controversy.
The situation escalated rapidly. After a complaint was lodged regarding her post, Mickens was summoned by Principal Bill Sampson and Superintendent Beverly Levine, who initially reassured her that she wasn’t in trouble. However, days later, a former classmate posted a screenshot of her comments online, prompting a barrage of reactions that pressured the school district to act.
Amidst the outrage, Mickens was pressured to retract her statements and apologize. Her refusal to comply led to her early dismissal and the subsequent crippling of her access to the school’s email system. A union representative informed her that the district planned to terminate her if she didn’t resign.
In a striking display of blatant disregard for due process, Superintendent Levine revealed at a Board of Education meeting that a replacement for Mickens had already been appointed, illustrating the district’s hasty actions against her.
Mickens is seeking justice—not just her job back, but also unspecified damages for what she believes is a violation of her constitutional rights. This case stands as a crucial moment in the ongoing battle for free speech in our schools. The silence from school officials is deafening, raising serious questions about the values we uphold in our educational institutions. It’s time to defend those who dare to speak their mind, regardless of political alignment.
