A North Carolina high school student has reached a $95,000 settlement with her school district after being publicly accused of vandalism for painting a tribute to the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk on a campus "spirit rock." The settlement, reached this week, includes a new free speech policy, a public apology from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, and payment to the student's legal team at Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF).
The dispute began on September 12, 2025, two days after Kirk was assassinated while speaking at a Turning Point USA event in Utah. Student Gabby Stout painted a patriotic message and Bible verse on the spirit rock with permission from school officials, who had approved the tribute as long as it avoided profanity or vulgarity. Despite this, Stout was accused of vandalism in front of her peers and placed under police investigation.
Stout's family filed a federal lawsuit alleging First Amendment violations, which led to the settlement. The agreement requires the school board to adopt a new free speech policy and issue a public statement expressing regret for the incident. Stout stated that the settlement clears her name and acknowledges the school's wrongdoing.
The case has raised questions about free speech rights in schools and the handling of student expressions of faith and political views.