Florida biologist fired over Charlie Kirk post wins $485,000 settlement
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) agreed to pay biologist Brittney Brown $485,000 in a settlement after firing her for reposting a meme criticizing conservative activist Charlie Kirk following his shooting death.
- Brown sued for reinstatement, citing difficulty finding work in her specialized field due to FWC's regulatory role; as part of the settlement, she will not seek future employment with the agency.
- Brown's firing followed intense social media backlash from Kirk's supporters, including targeted campaigns by conservative accounts like Libs of TikTok, which publicized her identity and termination.
- The case highlights broader tensions over free speech and employment consequences related to comments on Kirk's assassination, with similar lawsuits and settlements occurring nationwide, including a $835,000 settlement in Tennessee for a jailed man who joked about the killing.
- The American Civil Liberties Union praised the settlement as a defense of First Amendment rights for government employees, while a judge sanctioned Brown's former supervisor for exaggerating complaint numbers against her.