SAVANNAH, Ga. () – A Savannah city leader faces criticism over comments shared on social media following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The posts are sparking a bigger debate about where free speech protections begin and end.
Post 2 at-large Alderwoman Alicia Miller Blakely recently shared several Facebook posts critical of Kirk’s character, with one post in particular igniting controversy.
She shared a viral video made by content creator Stefan Cagle where he captions his video “Charlie Kirk is a racist.”
She captioned her own post sharing the video: “Tell it!!! We know who that poor excuse of a human being was!!!”
In the video, Cagle said “You know Charlie Kirk was bigot, he was an awful human being, and the world is better off without him. That’s a fact.”
She remarked, “That man said black people weren’t intelligent enough to fly airplanes and he doxed people. He wasn’t a free speech advocate. He was a jack***.”
In the comment section of her posts and through phone calls to the city, some individuals are demanding her resignation, while others are expressing support.
Christi Maude is one of several community members who told she called City Hall about Miller Blakely’s remarks.
She shared a recording of the phone call exclusively with .
Here is part of its transcription:
Christi Maude stated: “The fact that Alicia Miller Blakley put on her social media that Charlie Kirk is a racist and a poor excuse of a human being is disgusting. She should not have a position at all, especially Post 2 at-large. I want to make sure our grievances are known to the city manager. Can you make sure Joseph Melder receives this message?”
City of Savannah representative: “Yes ma’am. Would you like someone to call you back?”
Maude: “Sure.”
talked to a Savannah lawyer about the issue and if the elected official can be forced to resign.
“It’s a city council member, they can say whatever they want,” said attorney Dennis O’Brien, “It’s their constituents who decide if they keep the job or not.”
Kirk’s death in the age of social media has raised questions about free speech protected under the First Amendment and if it is protected for private employees in the workplace.
“You can’t stop them from exercising their rights but to free speech but if they’re an employee you can control it,” said O’Brien.
Nationwide and in our area, private employees have been losing their jobs over their comments about Kirk, such as a former worker at the popular bar, Savannah Smiles Dueling Pianos, fired over making “celebratory” comments and “deeply inappropriate language” on Kirk’s assassination, according to a Facebook post.
“In Georgia, it’s a right-to-work state,” said O’Brien, “so if you state something online and your employer doesn’t like it, they can fire you, you can still sue, but they have the right to fire you.”
has reached out to Alderwoman Miller Blakely and the City of Savannah for further comment.
