Barrington community divided over teacher’s Charlie Kirk post

BARRINGTON, R.I. — Barrington High School students and teachers well as parents are calling for the dismissal of their teacher Ben Fillo, after he allegedly posted on social media about the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

“No matter what anyone says to me I will never stand for violence, especially of a man who was publicly murdered in front of his wife, one of his children and thousands of students and other bystanders,” one of Fillo’s students said. “Charlie was not a racist, he did not hurt anyone sexually and he did not kill anyone, therefore this was an unjustified cause of death and this should never be celebrated.“ He continued by saying ”Charlie Kirk did not deserve to lose his life… but this teacher deserves to lose his job.”

Another student expressed his concern saying “As a student of Barrington High, I did not feel comfortable or safe with our teachers supporting violence. We believe this world needs God, because something as cruel as this should never be celebrated.”

Fillo has been placed on paid leave as Barrington Public Schools hired an independent investigator to determine if the teacher broke school rules or laws with his comments after parents raised concern. The post has since been removed.

Two teachers also said they think Fillo, who has worked in the district for 15 years, should be fired. While other teachers backed Fillo, with the Barrington High School baseball coach, Geoff Turner, calling him one of the most “dedicated and life-changing teachers.”

Parents and staff members clashed at the nearly two-hour-long meeting as the room was filled between supporters and opponents of Fillo.

One father in the school district threatened to pull his children out of the school if the Fillo was still being paid.

Fillo, the co-president of the local teachers’ union, was asked to step down from his position because of his leave of absence.

teacher’s Charlie Kirk post