Fired Over a Facebook Post? Alabama Professor Claims University President Was Behind Her Termination

Candice Hale, a part-time instructor at both the University of Alabama and Auburn University, claims she was fired from UA and placed on leave from Auburn after university leadership, including UA President Peter Mohler, allegedly took offense to her social media post about Kirk’s death in September.

Her lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, accuses the university of violating her First Amendment rights and seeks both monetary damages and reinstatement to her teaching position.

“This case isn’t just about me,” Hale said. “It’s about protecting every educator, every American, who believes in the right to speak their truth even when it’s uncomfortable.”

The Post That Sparked Controversy

On September 12, just a day after Charlie Kirk the outspoken founder of Turning Point USA was killed, Hale posted a pointed comment on her personal Facebook account:

“I do not mourn oppressors. I do not show them empathy. 

Evil racists, fascists, misogynists, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, and average white men who identify as Christians but act in ways that Christ would not approve of do not concern me at all.do on Earth. We are getting closer and closer to the real assignment.”Hale insists the post was a personal expression of her political beliefs, protected under the First Amendment. She says it was not connected to her role as a university instructor and did not reference her employer in any way.

But shortly after, she says she received a call from Utz McKnight, chair of the Gender and Race Studies Department, informing her that “the president saw your post and he didn’t like it.” Within an hour, Hale received an email notifying her of termination.

“A Chilling Message” for Academia

The lawsuit argues that Hale’s firing sends a dangerous signal that professors at public institutions could lose their livelihoods for engaging in political discourse

According to the complaint, "her dismissal sends a chilling message: those who dare to speak their views on political subjects do so at their own cost.“No one in a free society should lose their job for exercising their constitutional right to free speech.”

Her attorney, Kira Fonteneau, says there was no university policy Hale violated, and that her firing represents a troubling encroachment on academic freedom.

“We do our society a disservice if there’s only one prevailing view, one that’s considered ‘safe’ to express,” Fonteneau said. “That’s not democracy. That’s conformity.”

A Career Upended

Hale, who joined the University of Alabama in July 2023 with a clean record and no disciplinary actions, says the ordeal has taken a toll on her health.

“My body is dealing with the stress of everything that has happened,” she said. “It’s been overwhelming mentally, emotionally, and physically.”

While UA declined to comment before publication, Hale remains on administrative leave with pay from Auburn, which she has also sued. Auburn spokesperson Jennifer Wood Adams said the university “does not comment on pending litigation.”

A Broader Battle Over Free Speech

The case highlights an increasingly contentious issue across U.S. campuses: the boundary between personal expression and professional consequence.

Traditionally, public universities have been seen as strongholds of free thought and open debate. But in today’s hyperpolarized climate, posts made in seconds can spark disciplinary actions that ripple across careers.

For Hale, the fight isn’t just about reinstatement, it's about principle.

“We can’t let fear silence us,” she said. 

"Instead of censoring ideas, universities should be venues where they are challenged."

As her case moves forward, educators across the country are watching closely wondering just how far the limits of academic speech truly reach.