Students at a high school in Oregon organized a walk-out protest on Wednesday following a staff member’s alleged celebration of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA. The controversy began when Bobby Nove, a theater department employee at Thurston High School, shared the news of Kirk’s shooting with a single word: ‘Good.’ The post quickly went viral on social media, prompting outrage and calls for the school to take action. Parents and students flooded the school administration with complaints, demanding accountability, but received only a vague condemnation of violence.
Principal Kimberlee Pelster expressed concern over the incident, stating that violence is never acceptable and that the school stands by its values as a community. However, the resolution remains unclear, as Nove’s name is still listed on the school’s website. Meanwhile, other educators across the country have also faced backlash for similar controversial posts, with some facing potential suspension for their actions.
According to KEZI 9 News, parents and students quickly flooded the school administration with calls and emails, only to receive a vague condemnation of violence. In an email, Principal Kimberlee Pelster wrote, ‘We agree that this is concerning. As a community with a unique connection to the impact of violence, we stand firm that violence is never the answer. We expect our educators to model caring. This does not reflect our values as a Thurston community.’ Despite this, several Oregon students responded by walking out of class with sharp criticism of the employee and the school.
Thurston High student Rowan Taylor expressed strong disapproval, stating, ‘That ideology and just believing that murder is OK is not OK. And we strongly believe that we need to stand up against it and… there’s no place for that here.’ In a statement to Fox News Digital, Springfield Public Schools spokesperson Brian Richardson said the post doesn’t reflect the values of the school or district and that the matter is being addressed, emphasizing the district’s commitment to providing a safe and respectful environment for all.
Tensions escalated further as several educators across the country faced backlash for controversial social media posts that appeared to excuse or even celebrate Kirk’s assassination. Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced that more than 100 teachers in his state will have their teaching certifications suspended based on posts calling for violence. This incident highlights broader concerns about the behavior of educators and the impact of social media on professional conduct in schools.