U of T professor on leave after making a controversial comment on Charlie Kirk’s assassination
Professor Ruth Marshall’s suspension reignites debate on free speech for faculty and university accountability.
On September 12, the University of Toronto (U of T) confirmed to CBC News that Associate Professor Ruth Marshall is on leave after a post on X (formerly Twitter) that appeared to respond to the shooting death of American conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk. U of T said it “took immediate action” and that the faculty member “is now on leave and not on campus,” adding the matter is being reviewed and the university would not comment further.
Screenshots of the post circulating online show an account identified as Marshall stating, “Shooting is honestly too good for so many of you fascist cunts.” The Toronto Star reported that the account later became private, and Marshall’s departmental pages have since been taken down.
Kirk, co-founder of the conservative organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA), was fatally shot on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University. The assassination sparked intense reactions across social media and in political circles. Kirk’s supporters praised his legacy as a defender of free-market conservatism, while critics pointed to his track record of inflammatory remarks.
Kirk often defended expansive interpretations of free speech and gun rights. At a 2023 TPUSA Faith event, he said it was “worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights,” according to Media Matters.
This remark, which Kirk himself framed as a grim necessity of protecting constitutional rights, has fuelled many heated debates about the boundaries of free speech. For critics, that stance made Marshall’s comment especially pointed.
Accordingly, Marshall’s suspension raised questions about how universities handle comments their professors make as private citizens online, especially as it concerns universities’ obligations to safety, non-discrimination, and reputation.
U of T’s longstanding Statement on Freedom of Speech affirms that faculty and students are free to comment on matters of public interest. However, the policy also clarifies that speech encouraging violence or constituting harassment is not protected.
This isn’t the first time U of T has navigated such tensions. Previously, some U of T professors made comments on violence in Gaza that sparked debate on campus, with community members split over whether remarks crossed from protected expression into speech that undermined safety and inclusion, The Varsity reported in November 2023. Some of those faculty members continued teaching without interruption, while others faced sharper criticism, highlighting the varied ways the university has responded to controversial remarks.
Online, students’ discussions about Marshall’s case have been mixed. In one Reddit thread on r/UofT discussing Marshall’s post, some users argued that professors should be able to share personal views.
“Is a person not allowed to share personal opinions on social media anymore?” one user stated. Others felt her words went too far. “At the very least, a poli-sci prof shouldn’t be advocating for political violence,” wrote another. Moderators ultimately locked some posts as the debate escalated.
In an interview with The Medium, Ethan Evans, president of the U of T Mississauga branch of Students For Liberty (SFL), said his club condemns Kirk’s killing and opposes political violence “under any circumstance.”
He described the assassination as “a massive tragedy” and stressed that “political violence has no place in modern democracies.” He also said Marshall’s comments were “disgusting” and “an evil thing to say,” arguing that language that appears to celebrate violence risks encouraging more of it.
Evans emphasized a distinction between free speech and freedom from consequences. “Deference should usually be given to [protecting] what people say, and there shouldn’t be consequences for expressing opinions. But when speech crosses into encouraging violence or undermines others’ rights, reasonable limits can apply.”
He added that most students he has spoken with across political lines felt Marshall’s comments went too far, even if they disagreed with Kirk’s politics.
Evan’s advice to the U of T community is to lean into civil debate. “University is meant to be your time to grow and learn. Debate your fellow students. Listen to different opinions. Challenge your professors when you think they’re wrong. Don’t be afraid to express who you are.”
For now, Marshall’s future at U of T remains uncertain. The university has not announced the outcome of its investigation.
