Public universities and school districts in the United States have agreed to pay more than $2.7 million to settle lawsuits brought by educators who were disciplined over social media posts about conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated in September 2025. The settlements, several of which allege violations of the educators' First Amendment rights, matter because they sit at the intersection of free-speech protections for public employees and institutional responses to inflammatory online commentary about a high-profile political killing.

According to NBC News, public records show that at least five educators have reached settlements with their employers over the past year, together exceeding $2.7 million. The largest single agreement, approved last week, awards former University of Tennessee professor Tamar Shirinian $1.9 million after officials sought to discipline her over posts calling Kirk a "disgusting psychopath" and saying "the world is better off without him in it." Shirinian was placed on administrative leave, later apologised and called her remarks "insensitive," but was ultimately fired on 11 February and will not be reinstated. Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was killed on 10 September 2025 during an event at Utah Valley University.