South Dakota Professor’s Reinstatement Ordered After Kirk Posts

A University of South Dakota professor who was put on administrative leave after posting critical remarks on Facebook about Charlie Kirk after his assassination must be reinstated, a federal judge ordered Wednesday.

Phillip Michael Hook, an art professor, is likely to succeed on his claim that the university’s intent to terminate him violates his First Amendment rights, Judge Karen E. Schreier of the US District Court for the District of South Dakota said, granting a temporary restraining order in Hook’s favor. South Dakota politicians, including Speaker of the House Jon Hansen (R) and Gov. Larry Rhoden (R), had called for ...