Indiana Governor Mike Braun is warning Indiana teachers that they could face license suspension or revocation if they posted “terrible comments” on social media following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
In a Sept. 17 post on X, Braun said Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner’s office is reviewing whether teachers or school administrators made comments that celebrated or incited political violence.
Under Indiana law, the state can suspend or revoke an educator’s license for several reasons, including misconduct — a standard Braun said applies in this case.
Braun emphasized that the “vast majority” of teachers meet the high standard expected of those working with children but said action is necessary when that trust is broken.
The review comes as public agencies nationwide have cut ties with workers over comments related to Kirk’s Sept. 10 killing. In Indiana, a Ball State University staff member was fired, and at least three teachers have resigned.
Attorney General Todd Rokita and Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith are asking the public to report educators who “celebrate or rationalize” Kirk’s death. Rokita’s office updated its education dashboard Sept. 17 to include nine K-12 or university staff members accused of posting criticism or making light of the killing, along with contact information for their employers.
The Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA) condemned both political violence and its celebration but raised concerns about the governor’s approach.
“While celebrating violence is unacceptable, threatening educators’ licenses for lawful speech risks silencing those who are teaching honestly or sharing personal views responsibly,” ISTA said in a statement. “Political violence threatens our democracy, but so does censorship.”