Some GOP officials want to clamp down on perceived expressions of schadenfreude about Charlie Kirk’s death. Conservative activists are publicizing social media posts that are „celebrating“ his death.
Over thirty people across the country have been fired, put on leave, investigated or faced calls to resign because of social media posts criticizing Charlie Kirk or expressing schadenfreude about the conservative influencer’s assassination earlier this week, according to an analysis by NPR.
And more may be to come: some GOP lawmakers and officials are signaling their readiness to punish people for their speech. Conservative activists are collecting and publicizing social media posts and profiles that they say „celebrated“ his death and are calling for them to lose their jobs.
„If they have their picture on their profile, even without a name, download the picture and reverse image search it“, posted right-wing influencer Joey Mannarino. „Cross-reference it with their LinkedIn profile and find their place of employment. Call the place of employment, leave Google reviews.“
Some Republican elected officials, along with right-wing influencers with large followings, including Laura Loomer and Libs of TikTok, the account run by activist Chaya Raichik, shared screenshots of offending posts and demanded action.
NPR has compiled a list from news reports of 33 people who have lost their jobs or are under investigations over their posts as of Friday. Most were public school teachers, with at least 21 educators in school districts across the country fired, put on administrative leave or placed under investigation by their employers. Firefighters, members of the military, a sports reporter, an employee of the Carolina Panthers and a city council official in Indiana have faced similar treatment or calls to resign.
Among the earliest and most prominent firings was MSNBC analyst Matthew Dowd, a former Republican political consultant to President George W. Bush. As news of a shooting at a Kirk event began to spread, Dowd made comments on live television that soon after attracted widespread backlash from conservatives.
In his appearance on MSNBC, Dowd first noted that no details were known at that time, then speculated whether it was a supporter who fired the gun in „celebration.“ Dowd went on to say Kirk was „constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech aimed at certain groups. And I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.“
He continued, „You can’t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and not expect awful actions to take place. And that’s the unfortunate environment we are in.“ After Dowd’s comment, the host confirmed that Kirk was shot.
Some of Kirk’s rhetoric was incendiary. He questioned the intellectual capabilities of women and black people, said that some gun deaths were worth it to have the Second Amendment, asserted the 1964 Civil Rights Act was a mistake, and cast immigrants and transgender people as threats.
Kirk’s death was made public later that day, and Dowd’s firing was made public that evening.
Dowd later apologized and clarified his comments. He wrote in a newsletter Friday that at the time he was speaking, he had not known that Kirk had been the target of the shooting or that he had been shot.
