Iowa teacher fired over Charlie Kirk post sues school district for infringing free speech

Matthew Kargol, a former Oskaloosa High School teacher, is suing Oskaloosa Schools and Superintendent Mike Fisher for violating his free speech rights after being terminated for a social media post that compared conservative activist Charlie Kirk to a Nazi. The school board voted unanimously to fire Kargol on Sept. 17, following an internal investigation into the post made on his personal Facebook account. Kargol contends that his comment, "1 Nazi down," was rhetorical hyperbole related to Kirk's death and did not pose a threat or disrupt educational services. He argues that his termination was not based on the impact of his speech but rather on the viewpoint expressed.

The district claims it acted in accordance with applicable laws and board policies. Kargol has a history of positive evaluations and has never faced prior disciplinary action. The case reflects a broader trend, with over 100 documented incidents of employees being terminated for social media comments in various sectors. The lawsuit raises questions about the balance between free speech and professional conduct in educational settings.