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Floods in Mozambique force thousands of people to flee their homes as the rising waters cut communities off
Witnesses and aid workers said that severe floods caused by heavy rains in Mozambique forced thousands of people to leave their homes and some were left stranded on roofs. The waters were swollen and swamping settlements. According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which is assisting in relief efforts, floods directly affected more than 620,000 individuals, with 72,000 homes flooded and extensive damage caused to bridges, roads and health centers. Rachel Fowler, IFRC's Program and Operations Manager, told reporters in Maputo that the situation was likely to worsen as the dams were already full. This could put more people at risk. Boats and helicopters used to reach survivors Fowler said that Red Cross volunteers have been using small boats to reach the survivors, but that access has become increasingly difficult. South Africa, which is nearby, has sent an air force helicopter to assist. Celeste Maria, a hospital worker, said that she and her family left their home in Chokwe (in the southern province Gaza) after authorities issued flood warnings. The 25-year old said, "Our home has been completely submerged... We have left behind neighbours that are now telling us that they are sheltering in rooftops because the water continues rising." The aerial video showed vast areas submerged under water with only the tops and branches of trees showing. No immediate estimate was made of the number of deaths or injuries caused by recent flooding. PRESIDENT CANCELS TRAVEL, PORT OPERATIONS SLOWED Daniel Chapo, the president of Venezuela, cancelled his trip to Davos to attend the World Economic Forum and stated on social media late Sunday night that "the absolute priorities at this time are to save lives". Scientists say climate change has exacerbated the frequent weather disasters in southern Africa. The Portuguese news agency Lusa quoted Agostinho Vilanculos, the National Director for Water Resources Management. He compared water levels in 2000 to those last week that killed 700 people. Maputo Port's spokesperson, who is a hub for commodities export, stated that operations were slower than normal but not stopped. Two major foreign companies operating in the country, namely?Sasol, a petrochemical company, and Grindrod Logistics, a logistics firm, have said that their operations are not affected. South Africa has also been affected by heavy rains, especially in the northeast. The renowned Kruger Park was reopened Monday after several days of closure. (Additional reporting from Nellie Peyton and Wendell Roelf; editing by Olivia Kumwenda Mtambo, and Andrew Heavens).
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Source: Investigators found broken joints on the track at Spanish rail crash scene
According to a source briefed about the initial investigations, experts investigating the cause of the Sunday derailment in Spain of a high speed train, which killed at least 39 people found a cracked joint on the rails. According to a source briefed on the initial investigations into the disaster, experts investigating the cause of Sunday's derailment of a high-speed train in Spain found?a broken joint on the rails. The accident occurred near Adamuz, in the southern province Cordoba. It is about 360 km (230 miles) south of Madrid. The source said that technicians on site examining the rails found some wear at the joint between sections of rails, called a "fishplate", which showed the fault was present for some time. The researchers found that the defective joint caused a gap to widen as the trains traveled along the track. Source, who declined to be named due to the sensitive nature of the subject, stated that the technicians believed the faulty joint was key to identifying the exact cause of the accident. The Commission of Investigation of Rail Accidents in Spain (CIAF), tasked with investigating the cause of the disaster, has not responded to requests for comment. Adif, Spain's rail operator and the Spanish Transport Ministry, which supervises CIAF, did not reply to any requests for comments. Alvaro Fernandez Heredia told Cadena Ser that it is too early to discuss the cause. He said that the accident occurred in "strange circumstances", adding that "human errors are practically ruled out." Initial Findings from the Inspection According to the source, the first carriages of a train operated by the Spanish company Iryo crossed the gap between the rails. However, the eighth carriage, which was the last carriage, derailed and brought with it the sixth and seventh carriages. Iryo, a private?rail company, is majority owned by the Italian state-controlled rail group Ferrovie dello Stato. Sources pointed out a photo showing a gap in the vertical rail, which was also included in a picture that Guardia Civil Spain shared with the media. As forensic inspectors?photograph the area, police incident numbers are marked. The crash site was visited by the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and Transport Minister Oscar Puente on Monday morning. Sanchez cancelled his trip the World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland following the accident. Puente stated that the Iryo?train was under four years old, and that the rail track had been completely reconstructed last May. Source: Hitachi Rail, the manufacturer of the train, performed a routine inspection on the train, which was conducted on January 15, and found that there were no anomalies. It is the Frecciarossa 1000 model, which is also used in Italy's high speed network. (Reporting and Editing by Josephine Mason, London, and Jon Boyle).
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Snowfall in the Russian Far East is a record, bringing with it fun, frustration and massive snow drifts
According to weather stations and visuals, the biggest snowfall in 60 years occurred on 'Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula. This resulted in a metre-high sand drift that buried cars and blocked building entrances. According to weather monitoring stations, in some areas over 2 m of snow (6.5 feet) has fallen during the first half January. This is after December's?3.7 m. Pictures showed four-wheel drive vehicles struggling to 'traction or being blocked by huge drifts of snow. Locals had to dig paths up to apartment building entrances. "I plan to go on a walk around ?the city tomorrow, though unfortunately the car has been parked in a ?snowdrift for a month," said Lydmila Moskvicheva, a ?photographer in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a port city 6,800 km (4,200 miles) east of Moscow. A video posted on Russian media showed locals walking along snow drifts and traffic lights, with?great snow piles several meters high lining the roads. Some people jumped down the slopes just for fun. (Reporting and writing by Guy Faulconbridge, editing by Jan Harvey).
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After the crash of a train in Spain, passengers describe their terror and screams.
The survivors of the high-speed train crash in southern Spain described Sunday night the impact moment as a violent jolt followed by screaming, flying objects, and blood. When the accident occurred, the trains were carrying 400 people. It happened in Cordoba province, around 360 km south of Madrid. According to emergency services, 122 people were injured. 48 are still hospitalized and 12 remain in intensive care. On Monday, most survivors admitted that they had no idea of the magnitude of the tragedy until they went outside to see the injured or dead passengers and the rescuers at work under floodlights. "I began to get up and thought, This isn't right. I then looked for my younger sister. It was the last thing I remembered before everything went "dark", said Ana Garcia Aranda (26), who had just returned from Malaga after visiting her family with her sister, and their dog. She was rescued by other passengers who had broken the windows of her carriage. "Some people were okay and others were very, extremely badly injured." "You knew they would die and you could do nothing," she said while wearing plasters to her face. Later, firefighters rescued her sister and brought her to the hospital where she is currently in intensive care. Emergency vehicles filled the narrow roads as sirens echoed throughout the night. Residents of Adamuz say the entire town mobilised to bring water, food, and blankets to the stranded passengers. Salvador Jimenez said, "That will not be forgotten", a journalist from the Spanish public broadcaster RTVE who was rescued from one of those trains. In the end, this is a lottery. "Many of us were lucky." Paqui, whose farm is in the region and who rushed with her husband to the scene, remembers the horrific scenes inside and around the train. "Pieces of people, they weren't any more people. You found arms." "My husband saw a child who died inside... Another child calling for his mom, searching for his mom," she said. "I cannot sleep. Those are images that you will never forget." Raquel, another passenger, told Cadena Ser radio: "I was thrown out of the back cabin, and I opened the door with the top of my head." She added that she briefly fell unconscious before walking towards the firefighters. (Reporting and writing by Nina Lopez; Leonardo Benassatto; Susana Vera; Jesus Calero. Editing by Andrei Khalip, Sharon Singleton, and Sharon Singleton.)
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Spain's deadliest train disasters
In the worst rail accident to hit Spain since 2013, a high-speed derailment and collision with another train near Adamuz in the province Cordoba on Sunday night killed at least 39 people. According to?emergency medical services, 122 people were?injured in the collision, 48 of whom are still hospitalized and 12 in intensive-care units. The most recent train accidents in Spain are listed first. SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA (2013 ) A high-speed eight-car train veered onto a sharp curve near the city of Santiago de Compostela in the northwest of Spain, crashing into a wall of concrete and bursting into fire. The accident left 80 dead and 145 wounded. The Transport Ministry's?commission determined that speeding was the cause of the accident, and the driver had been distracted by an incoming call. However, the victims association blamed not only human error, but also the security systems on the train. MADRID TRAIN BOMBINGS (4) On?March 11, 2004 ten backpacks bombs detonated in four Cercanias commuter train, killing 193 people and injuring a large number of others during rush hour. The attacks were carried out by Islamist extremists who opposed Spain's involvement in the Iraq War. EL CUERVO (1972) In 1972, an accident caused by a head on collision between two trains along the Cadiz to Seville route left 86 dead and over 150 injured in El Cuervo. According to a Renfe investigation, the accident was caused because a driver failed to stop at a'red light' at El Cuervo Station. URDULIZ (1997) In the summer of 1970, a head-on collision between two trains in Urduliz near Bilbao killed 33 people. The accident was first blamed on a stationmaster, but later it emerged that he worked 16-hour days for four consecutive days. GRISEN (1965). A train traveling the Madrid-Barcelona line caught fire near Zaragoza in 1965, killing many passengers. The?train driver claimed at the time that thirty people had died. Later reports claim the true death toll is up to eighty and the Francoist regime tried to minimize it. TORRE DEL BIERZO RIAIL DISASTER (1944) Three?trains crashed in 1944 in El Bierzo, a region in Spain's province of Leon. The death toll is still debated because of the censorship that took place under Franco. A train traveling from Madrid to A Coruna experienced a brake failure, colliding with a train inside a tunnel. A third train then entered the same gallery before it crashed into the wreckage.
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What happened in Spain's high speed train crash?
The train derailment and collision that occurred in southern Spain on Sunday killed 39 people, and injured 122 others. Officials emphasized the "tremendously bizarre" nature of the accident which took place along a straight section of rail. What we know about the situation so far is: The accident occurred at 7:45 pm (1845 GMT) in the province Cordoba about 360 km (225 miles) south of Madrid. The two trains were operated by two different private companies, Iryo and Alvia. Both are run by Spain's national railway company, Renfe. The two last carriages from the eight-car trademark-red Iryo train travelling from Malaga, Spain to Madrid, derailed and collided with the Alvia. This caused the Alvia's two first carriages to fall and derail down a five-metre (16.4 feet) embankment. What Officials Are Saying According to Renfe Chief Alvaro Fernandez Heredia who said that human error is virtually eliminated, there was only a 20 second interval between the derailment of the train and the impact. He said that it would take some time to determine whether the failure was in the infrastructure or rolling stock. Officials stated that the Alvia appeared to have hit derailed carriages of the Iryo or the undercarriage debris. Renfe's chief confirmed that the 27-year old driver of the Alvia died in the accident. Iryo was carrying 300 passengers and had just left Cordoba, a historic city. Its speed was 110 kph at the time of the accident, which is well below the 250 kph maximum on this stretch. Renfe reported that the oncoming train was traveling at a speed 205 km/h. In the first Alvia carriage, 37 people were killed and 16 injured. The majority of those killed and injured were from the first two?Alvia carriages. Oscar Puente, Transport Minister, said the Iryo was less than four-years-old and the track had been completely reconstructed last May for an investment of 800 million euros. Iryo stated that the train's last inspection was on January 15 Puente described the accident as "tremendously bizarre" and stated that the derailment may not have caused any deaths if it wasn't for the approaching train. Jose Trigueros of the Association of Road Engineers said that his preliminary analysis of information and images released by the authorities indicated "failure of undercarriage of back units" of Iryo train. Previous PROBLEMS According to a copy seen by, the train drivers' union SEMAF warned the state-owned rail infrastructure manager ADIF of the severe wear and tear on the railway track, where the two collided trains, stating that potholes and bumps as well as imbalances of overhead power lines caused frequent breakdowns. ADIF did not immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. A review of alerts from ADIF's X page shows that it had previously reported infrastructure problems at Adamuz. These ranged from?signaling failures to overhead power line issues, which caused high-speed train delays between Madrid and Andalusia ten times since 2022. Last year, the government was criticized for a number of delays in the network caused by 'power outages' and theft of copper cable from the lines. Cable theft is a problem for the network, as it crosses vast swathes?of empty countryside. According to ADIF, Spain's 3,622 km high-speed rail network is the largest in Europe, and second in the world, after China. In 2020, Spain will open its high-speed railway network to private competition to provide low-cost alternatives for Renfe’s AVE trains. Iryo is a partnership between the Italian state railway operator Ferrovie dello Stato and Spanish infrastructure fund Globalvia. It started operating in November 20, starting with the Madrid to Barcelona route, and then expanding to other major cities. The Iryo ETR1000 is produced by Hitachi Rail Bombardier in Europe, for Trenitalia's Ferrovie unit. Renfe's Alvia train is made by local manufacturers CAF and Talgo. Reporting by Victoria Waldersee; editing by Sharon Singleton.
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South Africa mourns the 13 schoolchildren who died in a minibus crash
South Africa mourned Monday the deaths of 13 schoolchildren killed when their minibus collided into a truck. Local officials released a statement in response to the incident, which brought attention to the poor road safety record in the country. Officials said that three other children were being treated in hospitals for injuries after the incident near the industrial Vanderbijlpark City south of Johannesburg. According to a police official, the accident could have been caused by a dangerous overtaking maneuver, according to broadcaster Newzroom Afrika. The official also said that a case of culpable murder would be filed. In a statement, President Cyril Ramaphosa offered condolences and expressed his concern for the victims' families, friends, and teachers. He said that "we must do all we can to protect our learners." Last week, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy stated that the number of road deaths in South Africa was "a reason for national shame", despite a decline in fatalities last year. In 2025 there were 11,418 road deaths, which is about 6% less than the previous year but still equal to an average of 31 deaths per day. Creecy stated that the fatalities were mostly due to drink-driving and speeding. (Reporting and editing by Alexander Winning, Bernadettebaum and Anathi Madubela)
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UK Starmer calls on a 'calm conversation' to avoid a trade war with the US over Greenland
Keir starmer, British Prime Minister, called for calm discussions on Monday to avoid a possible trade war between the United States and Greenland. He appealed to President Donald Trump to "respect" alliances like NATO instead of undermining them. Starmer tried to deescalate the verbal war by essentially ruling out any retaliatory measures against the United States in the event that Trump followed through on his threat to impose import tariffs from Britain and other seven countries unless Greenland was made available to the United States. He used an early morning Press Conference He said that "pragmatic doesn't mean passive" to describe the values underlying his approach towards Trump. STARMER SAYS THAT TARIFFS SHOULD not be used against allies Starmer, who had told Trump on Sunday that the tariffs he was threatening were incorrect, doubled down and said he would "use all of government's strength" to try to stop this U.S. move, which, he claimed, could only harm already stretched families. Starmer added that he did not want to escalate the tariff war. "A tariff battle is not in anyone's interest, and we haven't reached that stage." My focus is to make sure that we do not reach this stage. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on imports of goods from eight countries that sent small numbers military personnel to Greenland in the past week. This follows Trump's repeated claims he wants to seize Denmark's vast Arctic Island to ensure U.S. safety. Starmer claimed he Tell Trump On Sunday, these forces were "clearly" there to assess the risk posed by Russians and take action. He expressed his hope that "real clarity" had now been achieved. The British Prime Minister signaled that his approach would be different from the European Union's, which has discussed several options for a response, including a Tariffs and tariff packages Imports from the U.S. totaling 107.7 billion dollars (93 billion euros). He said that instead, Britain should nurture a relationship crucial to UK security, intelligence, and defence with the United States, while opposing the tariff threat, and working diplomatically in order to avoid it. Starmer warned that the threats could lead to a "downwards spiral" in Britain's trade, and a weakening of its alliances. "I don't want to see that," he said. But he added, "That doesn’t mean we put our principles and values to the side." We're clear on what our values and principles are. Starmer has a strong relationship with Trump. In May of last year, he was the first leader who secured a deal for a reduction in some tariffs. When asked if Trump is seriously considering his views, Trump replied that he did not believe this. Military action Starmer replied: "No, I don't." I believe that this issue can and should be resolved by calm discussion. (Reporting and writing by Sam Tabahriti; editing by Sarah Young; and Andrew Heavens; and writing by Kate Holton, Elizabeth Piper and Alistair Smout; Catarina demony, Sarah Young; James Davey; and Paul Sandle.
SPECIAL RELEASE-The Charlie Kirk Purge: How 600 Americans suffered in a pro Trump crackdown
Lauren Vaughn is a kindergarten assistant from South Carolina. When she saw that Charlie Kirk, a right-wing influential, had been shot during an event in Utah. She opened Facebook and typed a quote by Kirk.
Kirk, in 2023, said that gun deaths were "unfortunate" but "worth it," if they protected "the Second Amendment, to protect our God-given Rights." Vaughn then added, "Thoughts, and prayers."
Vaughn is a 37-year old Christian who has made missionary trips in Guatemala. She said that her request for prayer was genuine. She said that she hoped Kirk's words, in context with the shooting, would prompt her friends to pray.
Rethinking their opposition to gun controls
She thought, "Maybe they will now listen."
Vaughn was fired a few days later. Vaughn was among more than 600 Americans who were terminated, suspended, investigated or disciplined for their comments regarding Kirk's assassination on September 10, according to an analysis of court documents, public statements, reports from local media and interviews with 20 people who had been fired or otherwise disciplined.
Some people were fired for celebrating or mocking Kirk’s death. At least 15 people received discipline for invoking "karma," "divine justice," or variations of "Good riddance"; nine other people were disciplined for saying "Good riddance." One poster said, "One down and plenty more to go."
Some, such as Vaughn say that they simply criticised Kirk's political views.
At least one academic in the pro-Kirk group was placed on administrative leave for threatening to "hunt" down those who celebrated the assassination.
The most comprehensive account of the backlash to Kirk's critics to date, this report traces how local Republican legislators and other influencers mobilized in support of Donald Trump's movement. This story outlines the pro-Trump retaliation machinery that is reshaping American politics. It details its size and tactics, from public humiliation to social media shaming.
Pressure
on employers
Threats to defund institutions. Previous reports have documented how
Trump has purge the federal government
Employees he deems to be opponents of his agenda
Law firms are being targeted for a crackdown
People in the crosshairs of the administration need to be defended.
Sometimes, Americans lose their jobs for speaking out during heated political moments. In 2020, 22 academics lost their jobs.
George Floyd is murdered
According to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (a group that advocates for free speech), a Minneapolis officer has fired more than 160 people, many for making comments that were deemed offensive. According to Palestine Legal, a group that protects civil rights for American supporters of Palestinian cause, in 2024, after the outbreak of the most recent Israel-Gaza conflict, more than 160 individuals were fired because of their pro-Palestinian activism.
It is notable that Trump, JD Vance, and other government officials have publicly backed the backlash against comments made about Kirk's shooting. This is a dramatic change for Republicans who, for years, have criticized the left's "cancel-culture" -- the exclusion or punishment of people whose opinions were deemed unacceptable.
The supporters of the firings claim that freedom of expression does not mean freedom from consequences. Doctors, lawyers and teachers should all have high standards of conduct.
They said that emergency workers in positions of trust by the public are not included.
Abigail Jackson, White House spokesperson, said in a statement: "President Trump, and the entire Administration, will not hesitate to tell the truth. For years, radical leftists slandered political opponents as Nazis or Fascists. This has inspired left-wing violence. It must stop." She continued: "No one understands the dangers associated with political violence better than President Trump", after he survived his two assassination efforts.
Turning Point USA (the youth movement Kirk founded) said in a press release that it supports the right to freedom of speech. "This includes the right of private employers to decide when an employee has crossed a line and deserves to be terminated." The organization cautioned, however, that while celebrating Kirk's death is "evil and unqualified behavior," respectfully disagreeing to his ideas, values, or statements is every American’s right.
Vaughn filed a federal lawsuit on September 18 seeking her reinstatement. She submitted a
Letter
Vaughn filed a lawsuit against the Spartanburg County school district after it received a letter from its superintendent describing her remarks as 'inflammatory, unprofessional and inappropriate.' The district responded by saying Vaughn was unable to prove the allegations.
s post "a
"Pared to endorse Mr. Kirk’s murder or to indicate that it was ‘worth' his losing his life to defend Americans' constitutional rights."
The district has declined to comment further.
Social media campaigns have been used to punish offenders. They circulate screenshots, names, and phone numbers of employers and messages such as "Internet, do what you want." What follows is usually hundreds of angry and threatening messages. In interviews, several people who were targeted claimed that they received a flood of phone calls. One person recalled getting a phone call every minute of the day. At least two people said that the harassment was so severe they were planning to sell their home.
Julie Strebe lost her job as a sheriff deputy in Salem Missouri after she posted comments about the shooting on Facebook, including: "Empathy isn't owed to oppressors." Later, she said that she viewed Kirk, who she described as an oppressor, because he used his platform to rally white conservative Christians around "racists, sexists, and hateful views."
Strebe says she has installed five cameras in her home to monitor her and her family. She also fuels her vehicle only at night, so as not to disturb her neighbors. Salem is a small town, and moving would mean leaving extended families. But she says the city has become too hostile for her to stay. In an interview, she stated: "I don't think I can ever let down my guard." The Dent County Sheriff's Office declined to comment on Strebe's previous employer.
Many Republican officials are in favor of the punitive campaigns. Some have
Proposed extraordinary measures
The U.S. government has banned those who are deemed to have revelled in Kirk's murder from using social media. The U.S.
State Department revoked visas
The agency has said that six foreigners are "
"We celebrated the horrendous murder of Charlie Kirk."
On September 15, Vice-President JD Vance called on his listeners in a special podcast episode of Kirk to punish those who celebrate Kirk's demise.
Vance said, "Call out their employer, hell, even call them." Vance's Office pointed out comments made by the vice president earlier this year, in which he said: "Where I draw the lines is encouraging violence against politicians."
Academics have compared this backlash with the "Red Scare," an anti-Communist purge which peaked in 1950, when government officials, union leaders, and Hollywood stars were accused of Communist connections. In a climate that was characterized by fear, thousands were investigated. This influenced American politics and culture over a period of a decade. Landon Storrs is a history professor at the University of Iowa. He said that there are "very troubling parallels".
The crackdown has caused concern among several prominent Republicans, particularly after the Federal Communications Commission publicly pressured ABC to suspend Jimmy Kimmel's talk show following his monologue where he implied that Kirk Kirk's killer was a member of the political right. The police have not fully revealed the results of their investigation on Tyler Robinson or his motives. Robinson has not entered a guilty plea to the murder charges and other charges brought against him.
Ted Cruz, a Republican senator, warned in his podcast that allowing the government to decide "what speech is acceptable and what is not" creates a dangerous precedent. He said that while it might be nice to silence voices such as Kimmel, "we will regret it when it is used to quiet down every conservative in America." His spokesperson declined any further comments.
'MASSIVE PURGE THESE EVIL PSYCHOS
Kirk's critics were punished almost immediately.
Right-wing influencers mobilized about 30 minutes after Trump announced that Kirk was dead. Chaya Raichik of the popular Libs of TikTok posted "THIS Is War" on X before highlighting a Massachusetts Teacher who wrote: "Just a Reminder, We're Not Offering Sympathy."
By the end of the night, Libs of TikTok published or reposted 37 professional details, often accompanied with commentary like "absolutely vile," Your tax dollars pay her salaries," or "Would he teach your kids?"
The next day, Libs from TikTok wrote: "It is actually frightening how many of these people are teachers and doctors." We need to purge these evil psychos, who are out to kill us all for having different political views.
Libs of TikTok, in the week following the shooting, shared the profiles and names of at least 134 individuals accused of celebrating violence and mocking Kirk’s memory. They frequently tagged Trump administration officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi. The influencer has posted information about disciplinary measures taken against government employees.
"BREAKING! This Marine was Fired," Libs of TikTok wrote on September 12th, a day after calling a Marine Corps Captain out. According to a screenshot shared by the influencer, the officer responded to Kirk's passing with an emoji showing clinking beer cups. The captain refused to comment on the post. Libs of TikTok reported similar disciplinary action against an Army Reserve officer, and an Army Colonel who commented on the death via social media.
The Pentagon and Justice Department released
The following are some statements that may be helpful:
They condemned the celebrations surrounding Kirk's death, but didn't address questions regarding their relationship with Libs from TikTok.
Scott Presler, a right-wing influencer, began to post screenshots of Kirk's comments.
On September 10, he instructed his followers to take a screenshot of every single person who was celebrating. He told his followers on September 10: "You can bet that we will make these people infamous." Presler then shared on X posts about 70 people who commented on the murder, writing in one message, "Almost everyone we posted about - who celebrated Charlie Kirk’s assassination - has been fired." Presler did not respond to comments.
The wave of shootings was a catharsis for many right-wingers who were outraged at the celebrations of the left.
Matt Walsh, a right-wing podcaster who discussed the firings, told his listeners that it was good for them to be humiliated. They would have to live with their consequences the rest of the time. Walsh replied by email: "F**k off."
Video blogger and recovery coach on YouTube
JD Delay expresses glee
He read out the names of those people who lost their jobs because of their remarks.
"I'm having a good time!" He shouted and raised his hands, expressing excitement. Delay said that he believed in "accountability" and "consequences", and that "if publicly saying abhorrent words and getting fired from your work, I will laugh at you."
Sometimes the punishment campaign veered from its original course. In at least five instances, people were wrongly blaming for the comments of others. Another case.
A website that created a blacklist
After receiving tens and thousands of dollars worth of cryptocurrency donations, the website "Expose Charlie's Killers" disappeared. The site's creators could not be identified or contacted for comment.
Online influencers claimed to have received tips from people who wanted Kirk's critics fired. Was unable to verify these figures. Presler, Libs on TikTok, and other right-wing personalities have publicly urged tippers to be patient while they work through the large volume of submissions.
Presler, who wrote "Can't stay up with you all" on X September 12, said: Post your submissions and I will go through them as soon as I can.
The post received more than 2,700 responses a day later.
It is possible that the number of people who were punished for criticizing Kirk was undercounted. Many government and private organizations have not publicly announced terminations or suspensions.
The people who were punished represented at least 45 different states, and a wide range of professions, including doctors, nurses, and police officers, as well as soldiers, pilots, and other professionals.
An Office Depot employee in Michigan was fired for refusing to print Kirk's memorial poster. A Starbucks barista in Ohio lost her job when she was accused of writing a message against Kirk on a mint tea cup.
The barista and Office Depot employee's identities were not known. Office Depot and Kroger, the grocery chain that operates the Ohio Starbucks, condemned the anti Kirk incidents and said that the people involved are no longer employees.
The requests to 21 federal agencies, including Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs, and the Defense Department, for the number or suspensions or dismissals related to the Kirk murder were either ignored, or declined. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence's deputy chief of staff responded to the inquiry on social media by accusing the office of trying "to generate sympathy for the ghouls that celebrate his death."
EDUCATORS ARE ONE OF THE MAIN TARGETS
Teachers, university administrators and academics were the most commonly punished for criticizing Kirk. In the days after the assassination more than 350 education workers, including 50 senior university administrators and academics, three high-school principals, two cheerleading coach and a theology teacher, were either fired, suspended, or investigated.
It is possible that educators are at the forefront of the backlash due to a number of factors. Teachers, as the people tasked with molding young minds, have been portrayed by conservatives for years as ideologues whose goal is to push their students to the left. Teachers' status as taxpayer funded employees made any perceived political commentary particularly explosive.
Six teachers have also spoken out in interviews and public statements. They cited their concern about the prevalence of gun violence in schools across the country, and their anger towards those like Kirk who advocated for widespread access to guns.
Vaughn, a South Carolina kindergarten assistant said she was thinking about this when she posted Kirk's 2023 comment on Facebook, dismissing fatal shootings as a price to be paid to protect gun rights. She said that, like other teachers in the United States, she practiced active shooter drills regularly at her elementary school. She saw the fear on her 5-year-olds faces as they learned to hide from a armed gunman.
She told a friend on Facebook that the day Kirk was killed, she had "no satisfaction" with the murder. She said: "Just heartbreak and hope for anyone and everyone affected by gun violence, and that one day enough will be enough." Later, she told a friend that her message was motivated by concern for children.
Right-wing influencers circulated screenshots of the posts. The original posts may have been deleted, or made private. The Virginia teacher has been suspended, and the Texas internship terminated. Both could not be reached for comment.
Some private employers cited a violation of their company values or safety issues as the reason for terminating employees. The corporations that were caught up in this backlash had a number of reasons for their actions. Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian stated in a press release that some employees' statements were "starkly in contrast" with the company's core values and violated the social media policy. United Airlines said it has "zero tolerance" for any form of politically motivated violence.
Some of the Kirk critics, who had taken pains to condemn this shooting, were also fired or suspended after Republican legislators got involved.
Joshua Bregy shared a Facebook post by another user in the wake of Kirk Kirk's death. The post read: "Nobody should be shot down. Not a child, not an influential, not a political figure -- no one. Will I allow others to turn a flawed person whose words have caused significant damage into a martyr? Not a chance."
Clemson Republicans reposted a part of the message in which they called him "ANOTHER LEFTIST PROFESSOR" and demanded his dismissal. Right-wing influencers amplified the post, and Republican state legislators threatened to defund Bregy's public university if he wasn't fired.
Clemson first pledged, in a statement on September 12, to "stand firm on the principles the U.S. Constitution including the protection for free speech."
Clemson fired Bregy after the South Carolina House Speaker and Senate President sent a letter demanding "immediate and appropriate action" from Clemson trustees. Bregy’s Facebook post "was blatantly unprofessional," and "seriously detrimental to the university," Clemson said.
In a letter, Bregy was informed that he had been fired.
Bregy is
Clemson filed a reinstatement petition in federal court in South Carolina. Allen Chaney, his lawyer, said that the academic would still be in the same position "but for the aggressive and coercive tactics used by elected officials in South Carolina."
Clemson's State House Speaker Murrell Smith, and Senate President Thomas Alexander have not responded to requests for comments. Clemson is yet to respond to Bregy’s lawsuit.
At least six times, Republican officials threatened to deny taxpayer funding to universities and schools if Kirk's critics were not fired.
Chaney, the legal director for the South Carolina chapter American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), said that the threats of defunding Clemson, and other universities, crossed a constitutional boundary. He said that the government cannot police speech through third-party pressure. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously last year that government officials could not use their authority to "attempt coerce" third parties to punish or suppress speech they don't like.
Paul McGreal, constitutional law professor and Kirk critic at Creighton University Law School (Nebraska), said that the threats of defunding schools who refuse to fire Kirk's critics are "stunning". Government officials threaten speakers with punishment if they don't agree with their views. They are violating the core First Amendment rights."
KIRK HONORED AS '13TH DELIGIOUS' OF CHRIST
Many Republicans have portrayed Kirk as a saintly champion for free speech since Kirk's murder. Evangelicals have compared him to Saint Stephen who is revered as Christianity’s first martyr. One Republican lawmaker said that Kirk would have been the "13th disciple" if he had lived in Biblical time. When he awarded Kirk the posthumous award, Trump compared him to ancient Greek philosopher Socrates and slain president Abraham Lincoln.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom
Kirk's legacy, however, is complex. Kirk gained notoriety for his debates with college students, as part of Turning Point. Kirk advocated criminalizing expressions - like pornography -- that conflicted with Christian beliefs. Kirk backed Trump when Black footballers began kneeling in protest against police brutality during the National Anthem. Later, the White House said that Trump was making a declaration and not a proposal.
Kirk denigrated minorities repeatedly, calling transgenders an "abomination", warning against "prowling Blacks in cities", accusing wealthy Jews for inciting "hatred towards Whites", and declaring Islam to be incompatible with Western civilisation. He dismissed Pope Francis as being a Marxist.
Kirk's hagiography upset some of those who spoke against him after his death.
Kimberly Hunt said, "I felt compelled in an interview to remind people of who he was, and what he represented." Kimberly Hunt is a human resource worker from Arizona. She posted a video with the caption "Save your tears, not for him."
Hunt, in the video, cited Kirk’s history of using derogatory words about transgenders and Muslims before saying that his children were "better off without him". Hunt was promptly fired. Her employer, a construction company in Arizona, has not responded to requests for comments.
Hunt said she was aware that her words were harsh, but stood by them. She said that they were Kirk's position in a discussion last year, where he stated that if Kirk had a daughter of 10 years old who was impregnated by rape "the baby would have been delivered."
Many voices have been silenced by the retaliation. Many people who made anti-Kirk remarks have now deleted or locked their account. In interviews, others said they were pushing back.
Hunt has raised over $88,000 through a GoFundMe page titled "Doxxed - Fired - But Not Silenced". She plans to use the funds to continue her education, to become a content producer, and to keep calling people like Kirk out.
She said, "It has definitely emboldened me."
State and federal court documents show that at least 19 lawsuits were filed against employers who punished Kirk Critics. At least two plaintiffs were successful, including a South Dakota academic who was able to get his teaching job.
Karen Leader, associate professor at Florida Atlantic University took to social media to protest the narrative that Kirk was "a shining example for youth, and a noncontroversial person who wanted an open and civil dialog," she said. Anyone who works in higher education understands that it is not as simple as that.
She pointed out that Turning Point gained prominence because of its Professor Watchlist. This site encouraged students to report professors for holding "radical-left" views or supporting terrorism.
Kirk described the Watchlist not as a blacklist, but rather a tool for raising awareness. In interviews, on social media and in public forums, those who were listed said that the Watchlist encouraged harassment and intimidation. A Turning Point reporter in 2023 was accused of assaulting a professor from Arizona who was on the Watchlist, after confronting him about his sexuality on camera and pushing him to the floor. The reporter was sentenced to a diversionary program after he admitted to harassing, assaulting and disorderly behavior. Turning Point's cameraman confessed to harassing the reporter in this case.
Leader started posting Kirk's previous statements on X starting September 10. She deleted the post after admitting that she had made an error by accusing Kirk incorrectly of using an ethnic slur. She said that she stood by the rest of her posts, including one in which Kirk claimed that Black Americans had been "better" under Jim Crow.
Leader stated, "I never encouraged violence in any way." "I was sharing the evidence."
Jordan Chamberlain is a former employee of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. She shared screenshots from several posts by Leader and asked her university if they approved the content. Libs from TikTok posted Leader's faculty photo. The president of the university announced that she was placed on administrative leave. The university's president announced that she had been placed on administrative leave.
menacing messages followed
The caller stated in a voicemail that was reviewed by us: "We are coming to get you." Karen Leader, you know where to find us. As soon as we know your address, we'll come to you. Leader hasn't left her apartment in years.
According to a police document, she reported the threats made to Boca Raton Police, who referred the matter to campus police officers. Florida Atlantic University Police said that their report couldn't be released due to an ongoing criminal investigation.
Florida Atlantic University confirmed that Leader was among three academics on leave while investigations were underway. The university declined to comment further. Chamberlain did not return an email asking for comment.
Leader replied, "I don't really know if my career has ended or not." But my life has changed." Additional reporting by Phil Stewart in Washington, Jana Winter and Courtney Rozen, in Los Angeles, and Isaac Vargas, in Washington. Jason Szep, Linda So and Jason Szep edited the story.
(source: Reuters)