People in Manhattan express outrage with Board of Education member

MANHATTAN (KSNT) - The Manhattan-Ogden Board of Education (MOBOE) met tonight to discuss comments made by the vice president about Charlie Kirk's death.

The MOBOE vice president, Katie Allen, responded to a post on social media and said that Kirk's death was "well deserved." This has sparked outrage from the Manhattan community, and many called for her resignation.

"My words hurt a lot of people," said Allen. "And I'm deeply sorry for them. And reflecting on everything that has happened this past week, I’ve thought a lot and read a lot about what it means to be a leader. Let's all be kind."

Some board members argued this was a matter of free speech, while others argued that what Allen engaged in was hate speech, which is not protected free speech. Community members spoke directly to Allen during public comment.

"I was attending a vigil at Kansas State, and there was a high schooler that came up to me and told me what Allen said, and I was just not okay with it because it doesn't matter who you are or what you believe in, there's no place for violence and the same kid who's involved at a Turning Point at a high school shouldn't have to be scared, believing what he should believe in," said Gavin Caldwell, a student at Kansas State University. "With Allen still holding her position, so I wanted to make sure I spoke. So it's a show that the student that I had his back at the end of the day."

Allen was released from her position at the Kansas Department of Education, and she has since stepped down as vice president of the MOBOE but will not full resign. The board cannot force her to resign, and in order for her to be removed, a recall committee would need around 10,000 signatures.

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