Rep. Meg Weinberger (R-Palm Beach Gardens) slammed Palm Beach County School Board Member Edwin Ferguson for comparing the late Charlie Kirk to Adolf Hitler during a recent board meeting.
"Comparing Charlie to Hitler is not only utterly untrue, it is disgraceful," Weinberger said. "Mr. Ferguson, I challenge you to present a single instance where Charlie Kirk ever made racist comments. The truth is, Charlie was a man of faith, a patriot, and a leader who inspired millions to think critically and engage in meaningful dialogue."
Ferguson made the insensitive remark after receiving alleged contacts from teachers concerned about losing their teaching certificates over comments about the conservative activist, who was shot and killed last week while speaking at Utah Valley University.
He also referenced a letter sent by Florida Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas telling district superintendents that he would not tolerate disciple comments by teachers and staff members posting on social media about Kirk in the wake of his assassination.
"When we talk about the Holocaust, I've yet to hear from the Jewish community say that I miss Adolf Hitler," Ferguson said. "He said a lot of toxic things that are very undermining to society at large, and we want to never forget that, and we want to be better than that."
Rep. Weinberger added, "It is deeply concerning that someone entrusted with making decisions for our children would use such rhetoric. Florida deserves leaders who rise above hate—not those who promote it."
Along with those comments, Ferguson also generalized Kirk as being a racist and a bigot in the minds of teachers who might face backlash from parents offended by their opinion on the activist, saying," I don't see how you're going to be at risk of losing your teaching certificate."
Since his passing, many school officials have faced repercussions across the country for celebrating Kirk's murder.
"The things that I've heard from this gentleman, Mr. Kirk, as it relates to the Black experience, are definitely things that will make me say Hey, I'm sorry that he passed away, but he did not use the voice effectively," Ferguson said.
