More than 600 people have been fired, disciplined, or investigated for social media posts following the assassination of far-right activist Charlie Kirk in September 2025, according to a Reuters investigation. Many of those affected are now pursuing legal action, claiming their right to free speech was violated.
Among them is Julie Strebe, a 55-year-old sheriff's deputy from Salem, Missouri, who was fired after posting on Facebook: 'Empathy is not owed to oppressors.' She called Kirk a racist, sexist, and antisemite. Following her posts, a website called Charlie Kirk's Murderers collated names and personal information of alleged offenders, leading to complaints to employers.
Strebe says she was suspended and then terminated, with superiors claiming she made the posts while on duty and had a history of controversial posts. She disputes this, citing only a ten-year-old post about roadworks. The Dent County sheriff's office declined to comment, citing legal restrictions.
Strebe and her husband have faced harassment, including a truck parked outside their home with a sign reading 'Julie Strebe Supports the Assassination of Charles Kirk.' They are now planning to move away. 'This is everything I've ever done in my adult life. And they took it from me,' Strebe said.
The backlash has been described as an ideological purge, with Kirk's supporters urging employers to fire critics. Many of those affected are now seeking justice through the courts, arguing that their free speech rights were infringed.
