Washington Post opinion writer fired for social media posts about assassination of Charlie Kirk
Karen Attiah, a Washington Post opinion writer fired for her social media posts about the assassination of Charlie Kirk, has filed a grievance arguing that she should have been allowed to share her views on news events under the company’s labor agreement and social media policy, reports The New York Times.
In addition to the grievance, filed by The Post’s labor union, Attiah, continues The Times, submitted a four-page letter to The Post’s head of human resources seeking to recover damages from her firing.
In the letter, her lawyers said she “spoke truthfully and forcefully about matters of vital public concern.”
The Washington Post did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
According to The Post’s termination notice, states The Times, “attached to Ms. Attiah’s letter, the newspaper fired Ms. Attiah for posts on the social media app Bluesky that violated the company’s social media policies, saying they “harm the integrity” of the organization. The organization’s policies and standards say that Post employees are expected to use social media responsibly and civilly, and to treat people with respect.
“Ms. Attiah posted her views on political violence, racial standards in America and the widespread availability of guns shortly after Mr. Kirk’s death. In one post, she argued that “part of what keeps America so violent is the insistence that people perform care, empty goodness and absolution for white men who espouse hatred and violence.”
