A former Georgia teacher, Michelle Mickens, has settled her lawsuit with the Oglethorpe County School District for approximately $287,500. The lawsuit stemmed from her comments on social media regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA.
Background
In September, Mickens made a post on her private Facebook page that included a quote from Charlie Kirk about the Second Amendment. She later engaged in a discussion with a friend who disagreed with her post, during which she condemned political violence but also stated that the world was ‘safer’ without Kirk.
Mickens was subsequently placed on indefinite leave and reportedly encouraged to resign. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) filed a lawsuit on her behalf, arguing that her First Amendment rights had been violated.
Settlement
The settlement includes $270,420 for ‘alleged emotional distress’ and $17,080 to cover legal fees. As part of the agreement, Mickens will not seek employment at the district again.
The SPLC released a statement saying, ‘We are pleased to reach a mutually amicable settlement of this matter. As courts across the country have recognized in other cases involving firings over comments about Charlie Kirk, and many other topics, “public school employees, including teachers, have a constitutionally protected right to free speech.”’
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
