Three North Carolina educators are facing scrutiny for controversial comments made after the assassination of conservative activist and inflencer Charlie Kirk, drawing swift backlash from parents, administrators, and community leaders.

This comes as a new YouGov Poll found that more than three-quarters of Republicans believe it is always unacceptable to celebrate violence against a public figure whom they oppose, while just 38% of Democrats agree.

At Guilford Technical Community College, part-time instructor Lisa Greenlee was terminated after a video circulated of her comments while teaching a class in which she called Kirk profane names and described Kirk’s killing as “karma.” The college announced her dismissal in a statement stressing that her views did not reflect GTCC’s values and emphasizing its commitment to maintaining a respectful campus environment.

“Her statement regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk does not support the open and respectful learning and working environment that GTCC provides every day,” read an official statement from GTCC given to the local FOX 8 station. “We want to reiterate that supporting violence is reprehensible and will not be tolerated at the college.”

In Wake County, Idris Aziz, chair of the Humanities Department at Millbrook High School, came under fire after posting profane remarks on Twitter about Kirk’s death. His account was quickly made private, but not before screenshots circulated widely among parents. A school employee indicated that the school has received many calls and complaints about the post.

Wake County’s Mom’s for Liberty group reposted Aziz’ comment on social media asking, “Should people who celebrate m*rd*r be around our children? No!”

Meanwhile, in Gaston County, the board of education is investigating the comments of an unnamed school employee allegedly posted a comment about Kirk’s death that district officials called “insensitive and inappropriate.” Human Resources is conducting a formal investigation, and administrators have not ruled out disciplinary action.

“We want to assure our families, staff, and the community that we are taking this matter seriously,” Gaston County Schools officials told WBTV. “The school system has clear policies regarding employee use of social media, professional conduct, and the expectation that personal views expressed by employees are not representative of the school system.”

In the YouGov poll, 76% of Democrats and 86% of Republicans agreed that violence is never justified in order to achieve political goals. More than 86% said they believed political violence is either “somewhat” or a “very big” problem in the US.

YouGov.com

The controversy comes as North Carolina students mourn Kirk’s murder. Kirk, founder and president of Turning Point USA, was shot while speaking during an “American Comeback Tour” event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. A suspect has been arrested, and the attack is being investigated as a politically motivated assassination. The news has shaken campuses across the country, including in North Carolina, where Turning Point USA maintains an expansive presence with chapters at universities and high schools.

Students at NC State University held a vigil in Kirk’s honor on Thursday night, joining peers from across the state in remembering the conservative leader who inspired a new generation of activists.

“You don’t have to agree with him to just care about a life,” NC State student Molly Kraska told CBS 17.

Another student, Wadeyn Norris, told reporters, “You can kill a man, but you can’t kill an idea… We all need to pick up the torch and be the torchbearers for Charlie’s movement.”

The fallout highlights the line between free speech rights and professional conduct online for educators in public institutions. For many North Carolina families, however, the focus remains on the example set in the classroom and the devastating loss felt by students who say Charlie Kirk gave them a voice in a system where they often felt ignored.

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