In a political climate already strained by division, a single moment caught on camera has reignited debates about who we entrust with the education of our children. Over the weekend, a woman seen in viral footage allegedly mocking the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk has been identified by social media users as an elementary school teacher in Chicago. The video, recorded during a “No Kings” protest, captured the woman making a gesture imitating a gunshot to the neck while reportedly mouthing the word “bang”—a moment many interpreted as a celebration of Kirk’s fictional death.
This isn’t funny
This is how assassination culture takes root
Democrats: please condemn this! https://t.co/mMuHyxHjqc pic.twitter.com/CuB3aocWkG
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) October 20, 2025
The timing couldn’t be more volatile. Charlie Kirk, a polarizing but prominent conservative figure, has long been a lightning rod in the culture wars. Whether you agree with him or not, there is little ambiguity in the imagery used by the woman in the video. Her act was theatrical, deliberate, and—given the current social climate—recklessly public.
What followed was a digital manhunt. Online sleuths were quick to identify the woman, naming her as Lucy Martinez, an employee of Nathan Hale Elementary School under the Chicago Public Schools system. The consequences were swift. Within hours of the video gaining traction, the school’s website was taken offline, and its X (formerly Twitter) account was scrubbed from existence—an apparent retreat from the public spotlight as criticism mounted.
No Kings protestor with a Mexican flag gives a buIIet in the neck gesture to a Charlie Kirk fan pic.twitter.com/VCBjQ47XD0
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) October 19, 2025
Conservative commentator Ryan Fournier didn’t mince words, calling Martinez the “perfect face” of a movement that “preaches love but celebrates death.” The online response was no less incendiary, with hundreds calling for her termination and the revocation of her teaching license. Questions of bias in the classroom, child safety, and political extremism took center stage.
The core issue here isn’t just the political leanings of one teacher, but what this moment represents in a broader cultural context. If the accusations are true, it forces a serious conversation: What happens when political extremism doesn’t just surface at protests or on social media, but in the classroom? Are children—especially those from families with opposing viewpoints—truly safe from ideological retaliation?
NEW: This video shows the Chicago Public School teacher mocking Charlie Kirk’s death from another angle.
The truck displays a flag honoring Charlie Kirk’s life (1993-2025).
The video was apparently posted by her husband before he deactivated his account. https://t.co/S5j690aX5x pic.twitter.com/VhUcr9zoFE
— Corey A. DeAngelis, school choice evangelist (@DeAngelisCorey) October 20, 2025
The lack of immediate response from the Chicago Public Schools system has only fueled the controversy. While some defend the teacher’s right to free speech, others point out that educators are held to a higher standard—not just in what they say, but in how their actions reflect on the institutions they serve.
