Washington Post fires Karen Attiah: Columnist links dismissal to posts on Charlie Kirk; guild accuses paper of free speech violation

Karen Attiah, a longtime writer for The Washington Post, says she has been dismissed from the newspaper’s Opinions department for speaking out against political violence, racial double standards and America’s inaction on gun control.The Post has not commented on her firing, citing personnel policies, but her biography on the website has been updated to say she “was” a columnist.In a statement, the Washington Post staff guild accused the paper of ignoring normal disciplinary procedures and undermining its role as a defender of free speech."The Washington Post wrongly fired Opinions columnist Karen Attiah over her social media posts. The Post not only flagrantly disregarded standard disciplinary processes, it also undermined its own mandate to be a champion of free speech," the statement read. Attiah had posted a series of messages about political violence after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Without naming him directly, she criticized what she described as “performative mourning” for white men who spread hatred and violence, as reported by CNN.In one post, she said that America’s violence is sustained by a culture that demands “empty goodness and absolution” for such men.She later wrote in a blog post that her commentary drew thoughtful engagement and support, with little public backlash. Still, her suggestion that Kirk “espoused violence,” along with a disputed quote attributed to him, reportedly drew the attention of Post management.Attiah said the newspaper accused her of “gross misconduct” and of endangering colleagues’ safety, charges she denies.Her departure comes amid major changes in the Opinions department, led by owner Jeff Bezos and new editor Adam O’Neal, who have pushed to reshape the editorial board in line with a focus on personal liberties and free markets. Several columnists have already left as part of this shift.“I was the last remaining Black full-time opinion columnist at the Post, in one of the nation’s most diverse regions,” Attiah wrote in her blog post.Free speech group PEN America criticized her firing, warning that the dismissal and suspension of multiple journalists after Kirk’s killing could create a “chilling effect” and weaken public debate."The firing and suspension of multiple journalists after the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk should alarm anyone who cares about free speech and a free press. Taken together, these measures risk creating a chilling effect that extends beyond those directly targeted, weakening public discourse at a moment when open debate is urgently needed," the organization said.