The Texas chapter of the American Federation of Teachers is demanding that the State of Texas cease all investigations into educators who reportedly celebrated or mocked the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September of 2025. Following Kirk’s murder, numerous educators from around the nation came under intense scrutiny for their reaction to the incident, including dozens in Texas.
The Texas AFT has since filed a lawsuit against the Texas Education Agency, as well as Education Commissioner Mike Morath, claiming those teachers were targeted for retaliation for exercising their First Amendment right to free speech.
Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, believes the teachers were wrongfully terminated.
Both Weingarten and the president of the Texas AFT, Zeph Capo, claim that teachers were subjected to numerous threats in the wake of Kirk’s assassination, however the union hasn’t provided details about the teachers who claim to have received such threats.
The TEA’s investigation is looking into whether educators’ posts about Kirk incited violence, or violated the Texas’ code of conduct for educators, which the Texas AFT says it “unlawful.”
It is not clear when the court may set a date for a hearing.
