School District Pays $95K to Settle Lawsuit After Painting Over Bible Verse Tribute to Charlie Kirk
16th June 2026
A North Carolina school district agreed Monday to pay $95,000 to settle a student’s lawsuit after her school painted over her tribute to Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk shortly after his assassination.
A high school junior at Ardrey Kell High School secured permission to paint “Freedom 1776” and “Live Like Kirk—John 11:25” on the school’s “spirit rock,” a large boulder that often features messages on political topics. Yet, within hours, she learned from social media that officials had ordered the “Live Like Kirk” portion painted over.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education agreed to adopt a new student speech policy, issue a public statement exonerating the student, and pay $95,000 in damages and attorneys’ fees, Alliance Defending Freedom, which represented the student, announced Monday.