An Iowa high school teacher claims his First Amendment rights were violated when he was fired for his online post following the shooting death of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk.
Matthew Kargol’s termination by the Oskaloosa Community School District came after he’d gone home and posted “1 Nazi Down” on his personal social media account. His lawsuit, filed Thursday at the US District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, comes amid a large backlash against people whose comments are perceived to criticize Kirk in the wake of his death.
At least one Kirk supporter has found herself in court defending her right to defend him. In New Jersey, nurse Lexi Kuenzle last week sued her employer, Englewood Health ACO LLC, under state law after she was suspended for challenging a doctor who “cheered and celebrated” the shooting.
Kirk was killed Sept. 10 in the midst of a public speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Twenty-two-year-old Tyler Robinson has been charged with his murder.
Kargol was fired by Oskaloosa Community School District Superintendent Michael Fisher. In his complaint Kargol said that his dismissal violated his right to free speech protected by the First Amendment. He stressed that his comment was on a matter of public concern, made during his own time and on his own computer, and that there was no evidence of any disruption at school from his comment.
The school district didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Timmer Judkins & Borland PLLC represents Kargol.
The case is Kargol v. Oskallosa Community Sch. Dist., S.D. Iowa, No 4:25-cv-00351, complaint filed 9/18/25.