Controversy Erupts Over Westhampton Beach Music Teacher's Charlie Kirk Comments

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — Statements made online by a high school chorus teacher after Charlie Kirk's death have divided the Westhampton Beach School District.

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot Wednesday, September 10 during an event at Utah Valley University. Video from the event shows Kirk falling from his chair as a shot was fired in his lower neck.

Parent Wendy Fisher showed a video posted to teacher Laura Mara's personal TikTok account. The video is no longer visible on Mara's account, but is still posted on Fisher's Facebook page.

In the video, Mara said: "'It sickens me that you're celebrating his death. He was a father.' We are not celebrating his death. We are responding to his death the way he responded to children getting pew-pewed in schools. And that response is, 'Thoughts and prayers.' I guess that's the price you pay to freely bear arms in the United States of America."

Mara did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In a statement, Carolyn Probst, superintendent of schools, Westhampton Beach School District said: "The district is aware of the matter being referenced; however, we are unable to discuss this as it is a matter of personnel."

Parents were outraged on both sides of the debate, turning out at a Board of Education meeting this weeks to share their thoughts.

And on social media, the heated debate raged.

"Wow, this woman should be fired immediately," one woman wrote on Facebook.

"She needs to go. She’s definitely in the wrong profession," another wrote on social media.

And, another woman wrote on Facebook: "Kids are watching. Those of us who instruct children know they look to us for guidance. We should be setting an example of respect. This isn’t it."

Others defended Mara: "Freedom of speech. It’s a basic constitutional right in our country. By taking that right away from any citizen in this particular case, a female educator, you are promoting censorship. Is our goal to teach younger generations of women to stay silent and not to voice their opinions?" one woman wrote on Facebook.

The teacher, one man wrote that the teacher was exercising free speech. "That is her right . . . the right to her opinion. I never realized how conservative Westhampton Beach is. Sad."

"Am I missing something? Was this video edited? I’m not hearing where she said she was happy about his death or that he deserved it. I’m hearing a teacher frustrated with gun violence in our classrooms and asking for equal outrage for our kids," another woman said.