Bakersfield College: Community College Fires Professor for Criticism of Racial Climate Task Force Proposal

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Bakersfield College: Community College Fires Professor for Criticism of Racial Climate Task Force Proposal

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Case Overview

FIRE Victory

After Bakersfield College professor Matthew Garrett criticized a proposal to create a racial climate task force at a diversity committee meeting in October 2022, college administrators charged him with unprofessional conduct and recommended termination. FIREwrote a letter to the Kern Community College District Board of Trustees urging the trustees to vote against the recommended termination, explaining that Garrett’s comments were protected speech on a matter of public concern. But on April 13, 2023, the board voted to officially terminate Garrett. In August 2024, Garrett received a $2.4 million settlement from Kern Community College District.

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