CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – National nonprofit the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday on behalf of Clarksville resident Monica Meeks, who was fired from the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance in September following a comment she made about the death of conservative radio host Charlie Kirk.
“When Meeks exercised her First Amendment rights by making a personal comment on a friend’s Facebook page, she was fired from her job with a Tennessee state agency,” said the lawsuit, filed with the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee Nashville Division.
“Meeks brings this First Amendment lawsuit (forward) because Americans who work for the government do not give up their rights to express personal opinions as private citizens when they are off the clock.”
FIRE is suing the TDCI for reinstatement, as well as damages, and the suit demands a jury trial.
Meeks, an Army veteran, said in a statement, “I’ve never backed down from a fight in my life, and I don’t plan to start now. I took an oath to defend the Constitution. Now, it’s time to stand up for it again.”
State issues statement over firing
Meeks was fired from the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance on Sept. 12 after posting this comment on a Facebook post a day earlier: “The way you tap dance for White Supremacist should be studied,” according to FIRE senior attorney Greg Greubel.
Following Meeks’ firing, TDCI Commissioner Carter Lawrence released a statement saying, “Today, I learned of comments made on social media by a now-former TDCI employee regarding the tragic murder of Charlie Kirk.
“Further investigation into her social media, in which she linked herself to the department, revealed bias and disregard toward the very people she was tasked with serving. I took immediate action resulting in her termination for bringing the state into disrepute.”
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‘I’ve reviewed around 200 cases of people getting punished’
Greubel told Clarksville Now that following Kirk’s assassination, FIRE saw dozens of cases like Meeks’, in which people were fired for posting statements critical of Kirk. “Monica is one of the people that was fired as a result of that mass wave of termination attempts,” Greubel said. “I can say, personally, that I’ve reviewed around 200 cases of people getting punished, and that’s just me with my team.”
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In a similar Clarksville case, Austin Peay State University attempted to fire tenured theater professor Darren Michael over social media posts about Kirk. Michael’s status was later moved to suspension. He remains on paid suspension as administration considers next steps, APSU said Wednesday.
What’s next in Meeks’ case
Greubel said that the next step in this process is after Lawrence, the named defendant in his individual and official capacities as commissioner of TDCI, is served, the state will have the opportunity to respond to the complaint.
“Monica is a combat veteran, she’s a lifelong public servant, and now she’s being denied the very rights that she fought for as a soldier in the U.S. Army,” Greubel said. “Folks should and hopefully do talk and engage with people that they know have different points of view than them. I think everybody should feel safe in doing that without having to fear losing their job.
“Freedom of speech cannot live in a society where people are afraid to speak their minds out of fear for punishment,” he said.
TDCI Communications Director Kevin Walters told Clarksville Now they do not comment on pending litigation.
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