Key Takeaways
- Emory University dismissed a faculty member over a social media post related to the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
- Dean Sandra L. Wong informed staff that the post raised concerns among colleagues and communities, but the faculty member’s identity remains undisclosed.
- This incident reflects a national trend where educators face repercussions for comments about Kirk’s assassination, with similar actions in Georgia.
- Prominent figures, like Jimmy Kimmel, also faced consequences for remarks following Kirk’s death, igniting debates on free speech versus professional conduct.
Emory University has dismissed a non-clinical faculty member from its School of Medicine following a social media post concerning the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
In a memo dated September 18, 2025, Dean Sandra L. Wong informed staff of the termination, stating that the post had “raised concerns among our colleagues and communities.”
The university has not disclosed the identity of the faculty member or the specific content of the post.
It’s Not Just Emory
This incident is part of a broader trend where educators nationwide are facing consequences for social media comments about Kirk’s assassination. In Georgia, the Cobb County School District placed several teachers on administrative leave for similar posts. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta also terminated an employee for related social media activity.
On a national scale, late night host Jimmy Kimmel was indefinitely suspended after a joke he made in the aftermath of Kirk’s death.
These developments have sparked discussions about the balance between free speech and professional conduct.
📜 The First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
What Does it Mean: The First Amendment protects five big freedoms that everyone in the United States has.
These are the five freedoms:
- Freedom of Religion — You can believe in any religion you want, or not believe in any religion at all. The government can’t force you to believe something or punish you for your beliefs.
- Freedom of Speech — You can say what you think and share your ideas, even if others don’t agree with you without the threat of retribution from the government.
- Freedom of the Press — Newspapers, TV, websites, and reporters can share news and opinions without the government telling them what to say.
- Freedom to Assemble — You can gather in groups to protest, march, or meet peacefully to talk about things you care about.
- Freedom to Petition the Government — You can ask the government and government representatives to fix problems or make changes by writing letters, starting petitions, or speaking out in public.
In short, the First Amendment makes sure you can have your own thoughts, share your ideas, and stand up for what you believe — as long as you do it peacefully.
How to Read and Understand the News
Truth doesn’t bend because we dislike it.
Facts don’t vanish when they make us uncomfortable.
Events happen whether we accept them or not.
Good reporting challenges us. The press isn’t choosing sides — it’s relaying what official, verified sources say. Blaming reporters for bad news is like blaming a thermometer for a fever.
Americans have a history of misunderstanding simple things. In the 1980s, A&W rolled out a 1/3-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder. It failed because too many people thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If we can botch basic math, we can certainly misread the news.
Before dismissing a story, ask yourself:
- What evidence backs this?
- Am I reacting to facts or feelings?
- What would change my mind?
- Am I just shooting the messenger?
And one more: Am I assuming bias just because I don’t like the story?
Smart news consumers seek truth, not comfort.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
