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, against the Oglethorpe County School System. The lawsuit claims that Mickens was unconstitutionally punished for exercising her First Amendment rights after she posted about political commentator Charlie Kirk on her personal Facebook page.
After the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Mickens shared one of his quotes on Facebook and engaged in a discussion with friends. During this exchange, she criticized Kirk’s stance against gun control while also condemning political violence and expressing 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. After online groups seeking retribution against teachers critical of Kirk shared her post more widely, Mickens was placed on leave by her school district. The district plans to terminate her employment based solely on speech made outside work 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 lawsuit aims to reinstate Ms. Mickens’ job and safeguard educators’ rights against censorship and intimidation.
