Florida biologist fired over Charlie Kirk post wins $485,000 settlement
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission agreed to pay biologist Brittney Brown $485,000 in a settlement after firing her for reposting a meme critical of conservative activist Charlie Kirk following his death.
- Brown sued the agency, claiming her termination hindered her career prospects in her specialized field of bird conservation; as part of the settlement, she agreed not to seek future employment with the agency.
- Brown’s firing was part of a broader wave of job losses linked to social media comments about Kirk’s assassination, with several related lawsuits pending nationwide.
- The case highlighted tensions over free speech and government employment, with the ACLU of Florida calling the settlement a significant affirmation of First Amendment rights.
- The agency’s claim that Brown’s post caused hundreds of complaints was disproven during litigation, leading to sanctions against the agency official who exaggerated the complaint numbers.