Des Moines, Iowa (RI) — Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird says colleges and universities should not use the murder of Charlie Kirk to suppress the free speech rights of students. Bird has authored a statement on the topic that’s been co-signed by 18 other attorneys general.
Bird says colleges and universities have a duty to do both — ensure the safety of their students and protect students’ rights to the free exchange of ideas. Bird adds, though, that free speech rights in the public square are very different than free speech rights in the workplace.
And Bird says there is some confusion about the free speech rights of employees at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa. The board that governs the three state universities has given administrators two weeks to investigate whether some staff members posted messages online after Kirk’s death that violated social media policies.
Bird made her comments during taping of “Iowa Press” that airs on Iowa P-B-S tonight (Friday). The Oskaloosa teacher who was fired for his online comment about Kirk’s assassination has filed a federal lawsuit against the district, claiming his First Amendment rights were violated. Matthew Kargol post said: “1 Nazi down.”
Kargol’s lawsuit calls that a blunt reaction posted when he wasn’t at work on his personal Facebook page that made no reference to the Oskaloosa school district.
