Lexington, MA – Today, Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Kennealy strongly condemned the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) after it issued a statement defending teachers who celebrated the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Kennealy reaffirmed his stance that any government employee who celebrates an act of political violence, regardless of ideology, should be immediately removed from their position and barred from receiving another paycheck from taxpayers.

“Any expression of joy over an assassination is abhorrent,” said Kennealy. “It’s indefensible that the Teachers’ Union is defending individuals who celebrated the assassination of Charlie Kirk.”

Kennealy underscored the outsized influence of the MTA, saying the union has strayed far from its mission to serve students and support teachers.

“The MTA has become the most powerful political entity in Massachusetts, but it no longer serves the interests of students or teachers – it serves its partisan political agenda,” Kennealy said. “In ten months, the MTA has defended those celebrating Charlie Kirk’s assassination, preached anti-semitism, broken campaign finance law, and bankrolled illegal strikes. None of this helps kids or advances education. Instead, it holds children and parents hostage while the union builds political clout. When I am Governor, I will stand up to the teachers’ union and put an end to their unchecked power.”

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