A wave of Canadian academics has sparked controversy on social media following the assassination of U.S. political commentator Charlie Kirk. Kirk was killed while engaging in a debate at a university, a setting that has become a focal point for the reactions. His death occurred after he responded to a student’s claim that U.S. political violence was exaggerated.

In the aftermath, several academics made provocative statements online. A screenshot shared by British Columbia politician Dallas Brodie allegedly shows Melia Bose from the University of Victoria posting, "GOOD RIDDANCE. The ‘woke radical left’ finally sent someone with good aim." Bose has since deleted her Instagram posts.

Tawab Hlimi, an associate professor at the University of Calgary, commented on Kirk's murder with the words "bullseye" and added, "Charlie Kirk no longer exists," accompanied by a laughing emoji. Meanwhile, Ruth Marshall, a political science professor at the University of Toronto, posted on September 10 that "shooting is honestly too good for so many of you fascist c–ts." Although she later claimed her comments were not in response to Kirk's death, the university has placed her on leave pending an investigation.

This incident is not isolated. Two years ago, many in Canadian academia expressed support for the Hamas-led attacks against Israel on October 7. Hlimi was noted for his controversial statements, which included a post asserting that "Hamas has the right to exist. Hamas has the right to resist." During the ongoing attacks, a faculty union at McMaster University celebrated the situation with a post stating, "Palestine is rising, long live the resistance!"

Uahikea Maile, a professor at the University of Toronto, called for more acts of "anticolonial resistance" shortly after the attacks. York University law professor Heidi Matthews commented on social media about the complexities of resistance in asymmetrical contexts, suggesting that Palestinians should define their own resistance. Despite the backlash, Matthews has retained her position and has been invited to speak at various events.

Harsha Walia, a former director of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, was recorded praising Hamas's tactics during a rally celebrating the October 7 attacks. A month later, she was honored at a Toronto event hosted by the American Anthropological Association, where eight academics from seven universities gathered to celebrate her work.

The trend of controversial statements from Canadian universities has raised concerns about the environment within academic institutions. The summer of 2024 saw illegal "Intifada" encampments established at several universities, including UBC, McGill, and the University of Ottawa, further highlighting the growing tensions surrounding these issues.