Texas Tech Student Expelled & Arrested After Viral Video on Charlie Kirk’s Death Sparks Free Speech Firestorm
Written by b87fm on 09/16/2025
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has waded into a heated debate surrounding a Texas Tech University student whose viral comments about the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk have ignited a storm over free speech, campus politics, and the boundaries of public discourse.
The controversy began when 21-year-old Camryn Booker appeared in a video allegedly celebrating Kirk’s death. The clip spread rapidly across social media, fueling outrage and calls for the university to take action. Within days, Texas Tech announced that Booker was no longer enrolled.
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But the fallout didn’t end there. Authorities soon arrested Booker on assault charges, further intensifying the uproar. She was later released on bond, but the arrest shifted the narrative from a debate about speech into questions of conduct—and punishment.
Texas Tech issued a carefully worded statement, condemning behavior that disrespects victims of violence while noting that federal privacy laws prevented them from addressing Booker’s case directly. The message underscored the school’s push to project a “safe and respectful” campus climate, even as critics accused them of caving to political pressure.
Governor Abbott amplified that pressure in a social media post, blasting celebrations of violence as “an affront to community values and human decency.” Cody Campbell, chairman of the Texas Tech Board of Regents, echoed that sentiment, stressing that the university would hold students accountable when their actions harm others.
The backlash has since expanded into a national debate over whether universities should protect even the most offensive speech—or whether some expressions, like cheering on an assassination, cross a moral line. Free speech advocates warn that punishing Booker sets a dangerous precedent, while critics argue that celebrating someone’s death isn’t “speech” at all, but a fundamental violation of civic decency.
As the story continues to unfold, Texas Tech finds itself caught in a cultural crossfire that stretches well beyond Lubbock. The clash highlights how quickly a viral video can escalate into a national flashpoint, forcing universities to navigate the treacherous intersection of politics, social media outrage, and the ever-blurring boundaries of free expression.
