The University of Miami has fired Dr. Michelle Bravo, a neurologist and specialist in headache medicine, over an Instagram story she shared following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The post, originally from another user, drew a parallel between the killing of Kirk and the suffering of Palestinians. The post included a reference to Malcolm X’s famous quote, “the chickens have come home to roost.”

In response, the University swiftly terminated Dr. Bravo, stating that while freedom of speech is a fundamental right, expressions “that condone or endorse violence” are incompatible with its values.

But was this really an endorsement of violence—or a deeply personal, political expression of grief and anger, common across social media in times of global conflict?

Dr. Bravo did not celebrate Kirk’s death. She reposted a provocative commentary highlighting the hypocrisy in mourning some lives while ignoring others. Whether one agrees with the framing or not, academic institutions must remain places where political speech—even uncomfortable speech—is protected.

Firing Dr. Bravo sends a dangerous message: that faculty can be terminated for engaging in political discourse online, especially when their views challenge dominant narratives or make powerful people uncomfortable. 

We, the undersigned, call on the university President and University of Miami Health System to:

1. Reinstate Dr. Michelle Bravo immediately.
2. Commit to clear, transparent policies that protect academic freedom and faculty expression outside the classroom.

We don’t have to agree with everything Dr. Bravo—or anyone—says to defend her right to say it. Free speech isn’t just for those with the most popular opinions. It matters most when it protects dissent.