Georgia teacher suspended over Charlie Kirk comments settles lawsuit against school system

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — An Oglethorpe County teacher suspended over comments in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death has settled her lawsuit against the Oglethorpe County School System.

After Kirk’s death, Michelle Mickens posted a quote from the slain political activist on her personal Facebook page and participated in an online discussion with her friends who commented on it.

She criticized Kirk’s opinion on gun control but condemned political violence and “articulated her hope for a safer world,” the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) said in a press release.

Mickens was suspended and the SPLC and the Georgia Association of Educators (GAE) filed a lawsuit on her behalf, alleging that her First Amendment rights had been violated.

“This case is about resisting the growing attempts to exert ideological control over public education,” Michael Tafelski, interim deputy legal director for SPLC, said. “Ms. Mickens is being targeted not because she violated any policy or harmed students, but because her personal views — expressed outside of the classroom — don’t align with those in power."

The SPLC claimed the Oglethorpe County School System is trying to terminate “solely for engaging in constitutionally protected speech” that did not disrupt the school.

“We know that the attacks on public education are unrelenting, and we must stand together to speak for our students, colleagues and our profession. GAE supports and defends educators’ right to off-duty expressive activity without fear of retaliation,” Mike McGonigle, GAE’s General Counsel/Legal Services Director, said. “GAE is the only organization that continues to stand up and speak for students, educators, and public education.”

Documents revealed the lawsuit had been settled in May. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.