The University of Miami has terminated neurologist Michelle Bravo following her controversial social media post justifying the murder of Charlie Kirk, the founder of the far-right organization Turning Point USA. The incident occurred on September 10th in Utah.
Bravo shared a post on Instagram that drew a parallel between Kirk's murder and the plight of the Palestinian population over recent years. The post concluded with a quote attributed to Malcolm X: "The chickens have come home to roost." It read, "What happened to Charlie Kirk has been done to countless Palestinian babies, children, women, and men—not just in the last two years of ongoing genocide but for decades. Every time it happened, and we all saw it on camera, Charlie Kirk would say, 'I love this, I want more of this, the people who did this are fantastic, I love them and they should keep doing it forever.' As Malcolm said, the chickens have come home to roost."
The message was swiftly criticized for appearing to condone violence and quickly went viral across digital platforms.
Institutional Response and Consequences
The Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami confirmed on Saturday that Bravo was no longer part of their faculty. "The University of Miami regrets the unacceptable public comments made by one of our employees. This individual is no longer employed here. While freedom of speech is a fundamental right, expressions that endorse or support violence, or that conflict with our policies and values, are not permitted," stated the official university release.
Bravo’s profiles were removed from both Instagram and the university health system’s website, where she was listed as a headache treatment specialist.
The Aftermath of Kirk's Death
Kirk, aged 31, was fatally shot while attending an event at Utah Valley University. The alleged shooter, identified as Tyler Robinson, 22, has been arrested and charged with murder. Reports from local media noted that the phrase "Hey fascist! Catch!" was inscribed on one of the bullets found in the weapon.
In the wake of Kirk's murder, who was known as a close ally of former President Donald Trump and a prominent right-wing voice in the United States, the government has initiated actions against those analyzing or critiquing the event from a non-mainstream perspective. This week, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) dismissed an employee for downplaying the murder of the conservative activist in a social media post.
Key Questions About the Controversy
Why was Michelle Bravo fired from the University of Miami?
Michelle Bravo was dismissed due to a social media post that was interpreted as justifying violence, which went against the university’s policies and values.
What was the reaction to Bravo's post?
The post was widely criticized for seemingly endorsing violence and quickly gained viral attention online.
Who was Charlie Kirk and what happened to him?
Charlie Kirk was the founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent figure in right-wing politics. He was murdered during an event in Utah, leading to widespread controversy and governmental actions.