Students at Thurston High School in Oregon staged a walkout this week after a teacher sparked outrage by publicly celebrating the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. Despite widespread backlash, the teacher remains employed at the school.
Bobby Nove, a teacher at the school, posted the word “good” in response to a news article reporting Kirk’s death on September 10. The brief but explosive comment immediately drew condemnation from students, parents, and members of the wider community.
“He said ‘good,’ and that kind of implies he would be okay with other murders,” student Trey Sonhill told local outlet KVAL. “That makes students and other teachers feel unsafe, so we are out here to stand for that and stand up for people that aren’t us.”
Another student, Rowan Taylor, emphasized the seriousness of the situation, saying, “That ideology and just believing that murder is OK is not OK. If he’s okay with this murder, it brings up the question, what other ones is he okay with?”
The students’ protest centered on demands for accountability and ensuring that the school environment remains safe and respectful for all students—regardless of political beliefs.
In response to the controversy, the Springfield Public Schools district issued a statement condemning the views expressed by the teacher. “The views expressed in the post do not reflect the values of SPS,” the district said. “We are taking this matter seriously.”
While the district did not confirm any disciplinary action taken against Nove, community members and students are continuing to call for his removal, arguing that a person who openly condones political violence should not be in a position of authority over children.
