University of Alberta law prof placed on leave over Charlie Kirk comments
The University of Alberta’s Faculty of Law has announced that a faculty member has been placed on leave following online controversy linked to Charlie Kirk’s assassination at Utah Valley University,
The University of Alberta’s Faculty of Law has announced that a faculty member has been placed on leave following online controversy linked to Charlie Kirk’s assassination at Utah Valley University on September 10.
The university told True North that it had implemented additional security measures following online comments from some of its members over the last few days.
In an email to students, the faculty’s Dean, Fiona Kelly, said that threats have targeted faculty, staff, and student groups.
“The university became aware of concerning online comments involving members of our community over the last several days. Due to the violent nature of the attack on September 10—and the fact that it was perpetrated on a university campus —the university administration must move to ensure the safety of all faculty, staff and students, particularly those who are the targets of online threats and vitriol,” said Kelly’s email.
In the wake of Kirk’s killing, a post by University of Alberta Faculty of Law assistant professor Florence Ashley was widely circulated and led to widespread blowback. The university refused to confirm whether Ashley was the faculty member who was placed on leave.
“Due to privacy and safety considerations, we cannot confirm the identity of the faculty member involved. The individual has been placed on non-disciplinary leave; a temporary administrative step taken to allow a thorough review while supporting community safety,” a university spokesperson told True North.
Ashley captioned a post in relation to Ezra Klein’s opinion piece — Charlie Kirk Was Practicing Politics the Right Way.
“You do not, in fact, ever have to hand it to the Nazis. I utterly do not care for any ‘virtues’ that someone may perceive in them,” read Ashley’s caption.
Ashley’s website celebrated him being the “first openly transfeminine clerk at the Supreme Court of Canada.”
He cites other work in his fight against governments trying to ban conversion practices.
“My work is also extensively cited and discussed in the Trump Administration’s Department of Health and Human Services sham review of gender-affirming care for minors. Some of my writing has been featured in news media and right-wing propaganda,” reads Ashley’s website.
Ashley also celebrated authoring the book Gender/F***ing: The Pleasures and Politics of Living in a Gendered Body. He said his pronouns are they/them.
In a post to Bluesky, Ashley also discussed getting email threats.
“Why do I feel like they’ll somehow find a way to blame Charlie Kirk’s shooting on trans people?” said Ashley in another post.
Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old Utah resident, has been arrested as the main suspect in Kirk’s killing.
A roommate of Robinson uncovered Discord messages allegedly sent by the suspect, referencing retrieving a rifle from a drop point, wrapping it in a towel, and engraving ammunition.
Police recovered a Mauser 98 bolt-action rifle near campus, along with engraved casings bearing taunts and ‘anti-fascist’ slogans, including phrases linked to far-left activists.
True North reached out to Ashley for comment but received no reply in time for publication.
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