Democracy4Ever Report Exposes Florida’s War on Teachers and Free Speech

On September 10, 2025, the death of far-right activist Charlie Kirk sent shockwaves through American politics. In Florida, those shockwaves turned into a full-blown assault on educators’ rights. Within hours of his death, teachers in Lee County were suspended, harassed, and threatened with termination over personal social media posts.

Democracy4Ever’s new investigative report lays bare what many already suspected: Florida has declared war on teachers, and free speech is the first casualty.

Secret Hearings, Silenced Educators

Lee County Schools has refused to release information about the scale of the crackdown. But Big Mouth Media has confirmed that around ten teachers faced hearings on Thursday, September 25. They have been effectively isolated — suspended from their classrooms, locked out of district communications, and warned not to speak publicly or seek support.

While details are scarce, it’s believed that the Florida ACLU and the teachers’ union have stepped in to provide legal representation for most of them.

The Posts That Sparked a Firestorm

The teachers’ comments were not made in classrooms or on school devices, but on personal accounts in the wake of Kirk’s assassination. One wrote:

“What’s that about the cost of the Second Amendment being ‘some gun deaths every year’? Bye Charlie.”

Another echoed Kirk’s own infamous words:

“Remember Charlie did say, ‘Some gun deaths are worth it.’”

Criticism of a public figure’s rhetoric—on personal time—was reframed by political leaders as “celebrating an assassination.”

State and District Crackdown

The response was swift and coordinated. Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas issued a memo to every superintendent in the state:

“Some Florida educators have posted despicable comments… I will be conducting an investigation of every educator who engages in this vile, sanctionable behavior.”

Governor Ron DeSantis piled on with a post of his own:

“Celebrating the assassination of a 31-year-old father of two young kids is disturbing; that teachers would be among those who do so is completely unacceptable.”

Within a day, Lee County administrators placed teachers on indefinite leave and blasted out letters to parents claiming personal posts may “undermine the trust of students and families.” One principal warned staff they are “basically on the clock 24/7.”

Harassment, Doxxing, and Threats

This campaign didn’t just end with suspension. The teachers have been doxxed — their names, photos, and even schools posted online — and subjected to a torrent of threats.

• Facebook DM: “Shame on you. This is a small town, see you around you dumb bitch.”

  
  

• Voicemail: “So your big lib turd mouth got you fired… good luck finding another job. I hear McDonald’s is hiring.”

  
  

• DM from a local man: “Go back to Iowa… You are a sick individual indoctrinated by a disgusting left wing party.”

For educators who already work under intense pressure and low pay, the message is clear: speak out, and you risk not just your job but your safety.

A Double Standard on Free Speech

The hypocrisy is glaring. Charlie Kirk once dismissed mass shootings as the “cost” of the Second Amendment. When teachers pointed out the irony after his death, they were suspended.

As one frustrated Floridian commented:

“These teachers are expected to take a bullet for a child but not allowed to be critical of someone saying ‘school children being shot is simply the price we pay to have the 2nd Amendment’?”

Another added bluntly:

“Don’t criticize the president’s friends or you lose your job. This is what fascism looks like.”

The Stakes for Democracy

Democracy4Ever’s report warns that this isn’t just about a handful of educators—it’s a test case for silencing dissent statewide.

“If educators can be silenced, so can every one of us.”

The hearings for these teachers will determine more than their own careers. They will signal whether Florida schools are places where truth, fairness, and democratic integrity can survive—or whether political intimidation will dictate who gets to teach.

A Growing Resistance

Despite threats and isolation, community pushback has been strong. More than 100 residents have signed petitions demanding reinstatement. Pro-democracy advocates stood outside Lee County district offices on September 25, holding a press conference in solidarity with the suspended educators.

The report urges Floridians to see this moment clearly: targeting teachers is not just union-busting or culture war theatrics—it is an authoritarian playbook to muzzle public workers and scare communities into silence.

What Comes Next

This is bigger than Lee County. It’s bigger than ten teachers. Florida’s war on educators is a war on free speech itself.

And as Democracy4Ever makes plain, if the state can strip teachers of their right to speak as citizens, every Floridian should ask themselves: who will be next?