ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - A federal lawsuit has been filed on behalf of a Georgia teacher who was put on an indefinite suspension and urged to resign after posting comments following the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

On Monday, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and the Georgia Association of Educators (GAE) filed the lawsuit on Michelle Mickens’ behalf against her employer, the Oglethorpe County School System.

SPLC said Mickens was “exercising her First Amendment rights” by posting a quote from the slain political activist on her personal Facebook page and participating in an online discussion with her friends who commented on it.

She criticized Kirk’s opinion on gun control but condemned political violence and “articulated her hope for a safer world,” SPLC said in a press release.

“This case is about resisting the growing attempts to exert ideological control over public education,” Michael Tafelski, interim deputy legal director for SPLC, said. “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."

The SPLC claimed the Oglethorpe County School System is trying to terminate “solely for engaging in constitutionally protected speech” that did not disrupt the school.

“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,” Mike McGonigle, GAE’s General Counsel/Legal Services Director, said. “GAE is the only organization that continues to stand up and speak for students, educators, and public education.”

Both SPLC and GAE said they are looking to have Mickens’ job restored and “protect the rights of all educators against censorship and intimidation.”

The lawsuit states another teacher was hired to take over Mickens’ class, despite her termination not being official.

In a statement, Oglethorpe County School System Superintendent Beverley Levine said the district is aware of the lawsuit.

“While many of the facts stated in the suit and the press statements on plaintiff’s behalf are inaccurate or incomplete, having been sued in federal court, the district prefers to litigate the issues in that forum and not in the press or in the public,” Levine said. “The district is confident that it will prevail in defending against this litigation.”

Return to Atlanta News First for updates on this developing story.

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