Former Georgia teacher Michelle Mickens settled her lawsuit with the Oglethorpe County School District on Wednesday, receiving nearly $300,000 after claiming she was unfairly punished for social media posts related to the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
In October, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) filed a lawsuit on Mickens' behalf after she was placed on indefinite leave and encouraged to resign. The controversy stemmed from posts on her private Facebook page in September, where she initially shared a quote from Kirk about gun violence and the Second Amendment.
In subsequent discussions, Mickens condemned political violence but stated the world was "safer" without Kirk, calling him a "horrible person" and a "fascist full of hate." She later clarified she did not condone violence but expressed relief at his death, citing his perceived role in promoting divisive rhetoric.
The school district took action after a former classmate shared the posts publicly. Mickens claimed school officials initially suggested she delete the posts but later escalated the situation, leading to her suspension and eventual resignation.
The settlement resolves the legal dispute without admission of wrongdoing by either party. Terms of the agreement were not publicly disclosed beyond the $300,000 figure.