Florida biologist fired over Charlie Kirk post after his death wins $485,000 settlement
The settlement resolves Brown’s First Amendment claim after she said the state fired her for private political commentary, with $485,000 paid and reinstatement barred.
- On Thursday, Florida biologist Brittney Brown signed a $485,000 settlement with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, resolving her First Amendment lawsuit over her September 2025 termination.
- The FWC fired Brown after she reshared a meme on her private Instagram account criticizing conservative activist Charlie Kirk following his assassination, an action prompted by the social media account Libs of TikTok.
- U.S. District Judge Mark Walker sanctioned FWC Habitat and Species Conservation Director Melissa Tucker last week for falsely claiming Brown's post sparked hundreds of complaints when discovery revealed the agency received only about 50.
- ACLU of Florida attorney Carrie McNamara called the settlement a "hard-won vindication" that sends a message officials cannot punish speech they dislike, noting the First Amendment does not disappear for government employees.
- Reflecting wider trends of public employees facing termination for online commentary, Tennessee officials settled a lawsuit for $835,000 with retired police officer Larry Bushart, who was jailed for 37 days over a social media post.
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She was discovered by a conservative account that was "scanning" the Internet for posts commenting on the murder.
Florida biologist awarded $485K settlement after firing tied to Charlie Kirk death post
The State of Florida will have to pay a former Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation employee nearly half a million dollars after she was fired for a social media post criticizing Charlie Kirk after his death.
Florida biologist Brittney Brown wins $485,000 settlement after firing over Charlie Kirk post
Florida officials will pay nearly half a million dollars to a biologist who was fired by a state agency for criticizing conservative activist Charlie Kirk on social media after his death.The state's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission fired biologist Brittney Brown in September after she reposted a meme on her personal Instagram account that claimed Kirk wouldn't care about children being shot in their classrooms. She filed a lawsuit seeki…
Florida officials to pay $485,000 settlement to fired FWC biologist over Charlie Kirk post after his death
Florida officials will pay nearly half a million dollars to a biologist who was fired by a state agency for criticizing conservative activist Charlie Kirk on social media after his death.
Associated Press News
Florida biologist fired over Charlie Kirk post after his death wins $485,000 settlement
Florida officials will pay nearly half a million dollars to a biologist who was fired by a state agency for criticizing conservative activist Charlie Kirk on social media after his death.
Florida biologist fired over post after Charlie Kirk’s death wins $485,000 settlement
Florida officials will pay nearly half a million dollars to a biologist who was fired by a state agency for criticizing conservative activist Charlie Kirk on social media after his death.
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