The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and the Georgia Association of Educators (GAE) have filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Michelle Mickens, a Georgia educator and GAE member. The lawsuit targets the Oglethorpe County School System, alleging that Mickens was punished for exercising her First Amendment rights after posting about political commentator Charlie Kirk on her personal Facebook page.
After Kirk’s assassination, Mickens posted one of his quotes on her Facebook profile and engaged in a discussion with friends. During this exchange, she criticized Kirk’s opposition to gun control but also condemned political violence and expressed hope for a safer world.
Michael Tafelski, interim deputy legal director at SPLC, stated: “This case is about resisting the growing attempts to exert ideological control over public education. Ms. Mickens is being targeted not because she violated any policy or harmed students, but because her personal views — expressed outside of the classroom — don’t align with those in power. This unconstitutional censorship of protected speech endangers a healthy democracy. We look forward to defending Ms. Mickens to ensure she can continue serving her students, as she has for decades, without fear of politically motivated retaliation.”
Mickens has worked as a high school educator in Georgia for 24 years and was recognized as a finalist for the 2022 Georgia Teacher of the Year award. After online groups shared her post with organizations aiming to retaliate against teachers critical of Kirk, she was placed on leave by her school district. The district now plans to terminate her employment based solely on speech that did not disrupt school operations.
Mike McGonigle, General Counsel/Legal Services Director at GAE, commented: “We know that the attacks on public education are unrelenting, and we must stand together to speak for our students, colleagues and our profession. GAE supports and defends educators’ right to off-duty expressive activity without fear of retaliation. GAE is the only organization that continues to stand up and speak for students, educators, and public education.”
The complaint requests reinstatement for Mickens and seeks protections against censorship or intimidation for all educators.
