Source: Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
by Connor Murnane
“Last week’s assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University was a horrific reminder that political violence has no place in a free society. In the days since, colleges and universities have faced growing calls to fire faculty and punish students for speech critical of Kirk and justifying the shooting. As government actors, public colleges are bound by the Constitution. Whether it is criticism of George Floyd in 2020 or Charlie Kirk today, the First Amendment protects speech, no matter how crude, offensive, or ill-timed some may perceive it to be. Moments like these test our commitment to free expression. When a college caves to outrage, it invites more censorship and sends the message that no speech is safe.” (09/17/25)
https://www.thefire.org/news/you-cant-fire-your-way-free-speech