City councilor in Oregon facing scrutiny due to remarks applauding the demise of Charlie Kirk
In a recent turn of events, Cornelius City Council member John Colgan finds himself at the centre of a social media storm. The controversy stems from a celebratory comment he made on Facebook following the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Colgan, who was first elected to the Cornelius City Council in 2019 and re-elected in 2023, is also a teacher at Neil Armstrong Middle School in Forest Grove. His current term ends in December 2026, but the controversy has already sparked a heated debate about the balance between freedom of speech and upholding a certain standard.
The alleged post, which is no longer discoverable on Facebook, reportedly said, 'The news really brightened up my day,' and referred to Kirk as a 'f**king ghoul' who defended guns after school shootings.
The Forest Grove School District, where Colgan works, issued a statement saying that they were made aware of inflammatory comments made by Colgan on social media. The statement expressed that Colgan's comments do not represent the City or the City Council as a whole, and do not condone violence or the celebration of violence.
The district's guidelines for Personal Electronic Devices and Social Media state that staff members should treat fellow employees, students, and the public with respect to prevent substantial disruption in school. The guidelines also note that the freedom to choose any side of a particular issue and support viewpoints is limited to outside of school hours and on personal devices only. The district's policies prohibit the sharing or teaching of personal political views in school classrooms.
The city council, too, issued a statement regarding the allegations against Colgan. The city is committed to fostering an environment of respect, inclusion, and constructive dialogue. The city's goal is to serve the community by providing a safe and welcoming space where all individuals are treated with dignity. The city will continue working collaboratively with staff, city council, and community members to address the needs of residents and ensure the highest level of service.
The situation has led to a divided public opinion. Some commenters argue that Colgan, as a private citizen, has the right to express his opinion freely, while others believe he has a reputation to uphold as a public figure. The debate continues, with both sides presenting their arguments and counter-arguments.
John Colgan's successor on the Cornelius City Council is Matt Bowers, who took office on January 1, 2023. The future developments in this story are yet to unfold, and the public will be closely watching to see how this situation will be handled.
