MA Teachers Association Wants Educators Defended From Charlie Kirk Backlash

The Massachusetts Teachers Association has called on school districts and public colleges to protect the rights of teachers in the aftermath of the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

"The ongoing campaign by extreme-right conservatives to discredit and defund public education has grotesquely exploited the shooting death of Charlie Kirk to launch attacks against people commenting on this public figure’s beliefs and statements," MTA President Max Page and Vice President Deb McCarthy said in a joint statement.

"The Massachusetts Teachers Association is calling on local school districts and public colleges and universities to be partners with unions in the fight to defend educators from bullying and harassment and to protect their rights," Page and McCarthy said.

Related: Framingham Teacher On Leave After Charlie Kirk Social Media Posts

"Attacks against educators and others have included death threats and the promise of violence," they said.

Massachusetts teachers have been suspended for social media posts that appear to celebrate Kirk's death.

A Wachusett Regional High School was placed on leave last week after a teacher was accused of making "inappropriate" social media comments in the wake of the shooting.

Related: MA Teacher Accused Of Inappropriate Social Media Comments On Charlie Kirk Placed On Leave, School Says

The response to the social media comments prompted the Holden Police Department to send officers to the school and to work through the night before they were able to determine the institution was not in jeopardy.

"These comments sparked heated debate, millions of views and brought into question the safety of school operations for both students and staff at WRHS," the Holden Police Department said in a media release.

A teacher in the Framingham Public Schools district was also placed on leave for what appears to be her social media commentary after Kirk was killed.

Related: 'Mistaken Identity': Salem Schools Staff Member Targeted After Charlie Kirk Assassination TikTok Post

Salem Public Schools officials called a TikTok post attributed to one of its teachers "reprehensible," but also claimed the educator was not actually the one behind it.

"The male individual who made the post appears to have the same name as one of our female staff but is not affiliated with SPS," officials said in a post to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. "It is mistaken identity."

The MTA president and vice president urged school officials to use discretion.

Related: Activist Charlie Kirk Fatally Shot; MA Leaders React

"We are insisting that public school administrators or officials not take actions that validate accusations by extremists against educators," they said. "We urge administrators to consider the legal and contractual rights of union members and to give equal weight to justice, due process and caution."

See Also: Malden School Resource Officer Reassigned After Kirk Comments: Report