Local News
“Just a reminder, we’re not offering sympathy,” one of the teachers allegedly wrote in a personal Instagram.
A Massachusetts teacher is on leave after sharing her reaction to the shooting death of influential conservative activist Charlie Kirk Wednesday, prompting a police presence at the district Thursday.
The superintendent of Wachusett Regional School District confirmed a teacher was placed on administrative leave after allegedly “making inappropriate comments” on her personal social media page.
“Please know that Wachusett Regional School District condemns violence in all forms. Political violence, especially, has no place in our country, and it directly contradicts our nation’s founding principles,” Superintendent James Reilly said in a statement, which did not name the teacher.
Libs of TikTok, a popular far-right account, shared screenshots of post that purportedly showed a teacher with the district posted “Just a reminder, We’re NOT offering sympathy” as a story via a personal Instagram account.
The post had more than two million views as of Thursday evening. Holden police said while there were “no credible threats of violence” at WRHS, officers were present at the school Thursday.
Libs of TikTok also shared a video allegedly posted by a Framingham teacher who appeared to be singing “God Bless America” while a television news report covered Kirk’s death.
“THIS person teaches YOUR children,” Libs of TikTok wrote, which is run by Laura Loomer, a far-right social media figure.
Robert Tremblay, the superintendent at Framingham Public Schools, did not return a request for comment but confirmed to WCVB that the “employee is on leave pending an internal review.” He also did not name the teacher.
Kirk was a contentious figure nationwide on campuses
Kirk, 31, was addressing a crowd of thousands Wednesday in Utah, which allows people to openly carry a gun on their public university campuses with very few exceptions, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. As seen on videos circulating on social media, he was shot in the neck while answering a question about gun violence.
Kirk, the founder of the nonprofit Turning Point USA, was a close ally of President Donald Trump, galvanizing a conservative youth movement and touring college campuses to debate college students, events which often drew protests.
He was a strong supporter of gun rights, acknowledging in 2023 that “some gun deaths every single year” are worth it to have the Second Amendment, the Guardian reported.
He also believed the Civil Rights Act was a mistake, criticized Martin Luther King Jr., perpetuated antisemitic stereotypes, and was critical of gay and transgender rights, according to a New York Times round-up of his views.
Kirk was married to podcaster Erika Frantzve. They have two young children.
The FBI released photos of a person of interest related to the shooting Thursday afternoon.
“I can tell you this was a targeted event,” said Robert Bohls, the top FBI agent in Salt Lake City.
Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
