Texas Governor Greg Abbott Cracks Down on Educators Over Charlie Kirk Assassination Comments

AUSTIN, Texas – In a swift and unyielding response to a wave of inflammatory social media posts, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on September 15, 2025, that more than 100 educators across the state face immediate suspension of their teaching certifications. The decision stems from their alleged endorsement of or incitement to violence following the shocking assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk just five days earlier. Kirk, the 32-year-old founder and CEO of Turning Point USA—a prominent right-wing youth organization—was gunned down on stage during a speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 10. Authorities have classified the killing as a targeted political assassination, with 22-year-old suspect Tyler Robinson in custody, charged with first-degree murder.

Abbott’s announcement, posted directly on X (formerly Twitter), has ignited a firestorm of debate over free speech, professional ethics, and the boundaries of online expression for public employees. “The Texas Education Agency is investigating Texas teachers whose actions called for or incite violence following the Charlie Kirk assassination,” the governor wrote. “Those educators—more than 100—will have their teacher certification suspended and be ineligible to teach in a Texas public school.” The post, which garnered over 150,000 likes and thousands of shares within hours, included a link to a Texas Education Agency (TEA) statement emphasizing zero tolerance for conduct that violates the state’s educator code of ethics.

The TEA, under Commissioner Mike Morath, confirmed it has received approximately 180 formal complaints since Kirk’s death, many originating from conservative activists and parents who scoured social media for evidence. Morath, in a prepared statement, drew a clear line: “While all educators are held to a high standard of professionalism, there is a difference between comments made in poor taste and those that call for and incite further violence—the latter of which is clearly unacceptable.” He pledged to recommend permanent license revocations to the State Board for Educator Certification for any violators, underscoring that such behavior undermines the trust essential to public education.

This crackdown is not isolated to Texas. Similar investigations have rippled across the nation, with at least a dozen teachers and professors in states like Florida, Oklahoma, Virginia, and New York facing suspensions or terminations for posts deemed celebratory or inflammatory. In Florida, Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas issued a memo blasting “despicable comments” about Kirk’s death, vowing disciplinary action. Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters went further, declaring in a video that any teacher “glorifying this assassination” would lose their license “and never be back in an Oklahoma classroom.” Nationwide, conservative influencers have amplified screenshots of offending posts, accelerating the backlash and prompting school districts to act preemptively.

In Texas, the fallout has been particularly acute, reflecting the state’s polarized political landscape and Abbott’s long-standing emphasis on conservative values in education. Several districts have already moved independently: Klein Independent School District fired an employee over “senseless” remarks; Wylie ISD saw two staffers—an elementary teacher and a band director—resign after posts like “Looks like he took one for the team. Hope he is roasting!”; and Midland ISD placed a worker on administrative leave. At Texas Tech University in Lubbock, a student was arrested during a Kirk memorial vigil after a viral video showed her mocking the activist’s death—prompting Abbott to post the footage with the acronym for “f*** around and find out,” celebrating the arrest as swift justice.

The complaints flooding the TEA’s Education Misconduct division paint a grim picture of the online vitriol. Screenshots shared widely depict teachers writing things like “Good riddance to bad garbage” or expressing hope that Kirk “suffered through all of it.” One Virginia educator, suspended from Newport News Public Schools, allegedly posted on Facebook wishing prolonged agony on the victim. In Texas, Rep. James Frank, a Republican from Wichita Falls, publicly urged the TEA to “take a stand against teachers who condoned the assassination,” while other lawmakers have criticized districts for slow responses.

Critics, however, decry the measures as a chilling overreach into private expression. The Texas American Federation of Teachers (Texas AFT), the state’s largest educators’ union, lambasted the probes as a “political witch hunt” in a Saturday statement. Union President Louis Malfaro argued that targeting off-duty speech sets a dangerous precedent, especially amid broader assaults on academic freedom. “I did not see him react in a similar way to the targeted political assassination of the leader of the Minnesota House Democratic Caucus, Melissa Hortman, and her husband—who were shot dead in their home just weeks ago,” Malfaro said, referencing a July 2025 incident that drew less conservative outrage. He warned that the focus on Kirk’s death—while tragic—ignores systemic issues like underfunding and teacher shortages, potentially silencing diverse viewpoints in classrooms.

Kirk’s assassination has reverberated far beyond education circles, exposing raw divisions in American discourse. The activist, known for his fiery campus tours railing against “woke” culture, abortion, and progressive policies, had amassed millions of followers through Turning Point USA, which boasts chapters on over 3,000 campuses. His death, captured in grainy event footage showing a gunman rushing the stage amid applause, has been mourned by figures like former President Donald Trump, who called Kirk a “fearless warrior for freedom,” and Sen. JD Vance, who eulogized him as a mentor to young conservatives. Vigils, including one in Scottsdale, Arizona, drew hundreds, blending grief with calls for redoubled activism.

Yet, the online glee from some corners—fueled by Kirk’s polarizing stances on issues like LGBTQ+ rights and racial justice—has only intensified the scrutiny. Legal experts note that while public employees enjoy First Amendment protections, courts have upheld restrictions on speech that disrupts workplace harmony or violates professional codes. In Texas, the educator ethics code explicitly prohibits conduct that “incites criminal or violent behavior,” providing a legal basis for the TEA’s actions. Still, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas has signaled interest in challenging revocations, arguing they could disproportionately affect left-leaning teachers in a red state.

As investigations proceed, the TEA expects more complaints, with Morath’s division reviewing each for evidence of ethical breaches. Abbott, who has clashed with educators over curriculum mandates and book bans, framed the response as safeguarding students from “reprehensible” influences. “Texas will not tolerate educators who celebrate violence,” he reiterated in a follow-up X post, tagging the TEA and state board.

The saga underscores a broader tension in the post-2024 election era, where social media amplifies personal views into professional liabilities. For the over 100 Texas educators now in the crosshairs—many anonymous pending outcomes—the stakes are existential: not just job loss, but the end of careers built on shaping young minds. As one suspended teacher from Fort Bend ISD told local reporters anonymously, “I spoke my truth off the clock, but now it’s costing me everything.” Whether this wave of accountability deters future outbursts or stifles dissent remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s death, the classroom has become an unlikely battleground in America’s culture wars.