Former Kansas education employee launches lawsuit after controversial ‘well deserved’ Charlie Kirk comment

TOPEKA (KSNT) – A former state education employee is suing the Kansas Department of Education after she was let go for a controversial social media post about conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Katie Allen is suing the KSDE and Commissioner of Education Randy Watson after she was terminated from her position as a research analyst and stepped down from her place as vice-president on the Manhattan-Ogden Board of Education, according to court documents. She argues this should be classified as “wrongful termination” due to a violation of her First Amendment right.

Allen came under heavy criticism from members of the public and political figures recently for a comment she made shortly after Kirk was shot while holding a talk with students and others at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10 for Turning Point USA. Allen posted a comment on a Facebook post that contained a quote from Kirk regarding his stance on gun violence on the day of the assassination, stating “well deserved” before deleting the comment a short time later, according to the lawsuit.

Though Allen deleted her comment minutes after she posted it, the statement was shared across social media, according to court documents. The lawsuit alleges that Allen began receiving threats of violence in the form of emails and phone calls. She made an apology on Sept. 10, saying that “in an emotional moment I commented on a post” about the shooting.

“My words hurt a lot of people,” Allen said on Sept. 17 during a Manhattan-Ogden Board of Education meeting. “And I’m deeply sorry for them. And reflecting on everything that has happened this past week, I’ve thought a lot and read a lot about what it means to be a leader. Let’s all be kind.”

Allen’s employment with the KSDE ended on Sept. 16. She argues that her termination was made “in response to the vigilante spirit of the thousands of persons” who called for her to lose her job, a violation of her First Amendment right. She claims that Watson should have helped safeguard her right to freedom of speech.

Allen is now requesting a jury trial to argue her case against Watson and the KSDE. She is also asking for her position back and financial payments in the form of back pay and award of compensatory damages. 27 News reached out to the KSDE for comment on the situation.

“We do not comment on personnel issues,” said Denise Kahler, KSDE spokeswoman.

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