Massachusetts Teachers Union Urges Protection for Educators
Massachusetts’ largest teachers union has called on local districts to refrain from taking disciplinary action against educators who expressed support for the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA.
The Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA), representing over 117,000 members, issued a statement on Tuesday. This follows the incident where Kirk was shot recently, and an administrator moved to suspend a teacher who had posted congratulatory comments online. Union leaders contend that penalizing these teachers would only give credence to claims made by extremists.
The MTA stated, “We are urging local school districts and public universities to collaborate with unions to defend educators against bullying and harassment and to safeguard their rights.” They emphasized that public school officials should not act on extremist claims regarding teachers.
Furthermore, the MTA criticized what they described as an ongoing campaign by extreme conservatives to undermine public education. They alleged that the tragic circumstances surrounding Kirk’s death are being exploited to attack those who criticize him or his views.
Reports indicate that at least four school districts in Massachusetts, such as Peabody, Framingham, Sharon, and Wachusett, have taken action against teachers for posts that seemed to celebrate Kirk’s assassination. The Boston Herald referenced a teacher from Wachusett Regional High School who was reportedly dismissive about offering sympathy after the incident.
Another situation involves a teacher from Framingham who shared videos of themselves singing “God Bless America” in response to the news of Kirk’s death. “We became aware of a social media post late last night and acted immediately,” the director of Framingham Public Schools stated. “We are fully committed to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for all. Violence and hate-filled behavior are not tolerated.”
Kirk, a husband and father of two young children, was tragically shot in the neck on September 10 while speaking to an audience at Utah Valley University. Prosecutors in Utah County are pursuing the death penalty against Tyler Robinson, 22, who has been charged in connection with the murder.
