DENVER, CO — The Jefferson County School District has issued a statement affirming that it does not “endorse violence” after one of its teachers made controversial remarks about an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Jennifer Ripper, a teacher at Semper Elementary School, faced backlash following her comments on social media expressing disappointment that the assassination attempt was unsuccessful.
Ripper wrote “looks like he ALMOST got taken out” on Facebook, which quickly went viral after being shared by popular social media accounts, including Libs of TikTok. The post included a response from Ripper to another user who expressed remorse that the shooter “missed,” to which Ripper replied, “my thoughts exactly”.
She then defended herself saying, “Yes, I’m a teacher. I think for myself and want others to do the same. No matter, now he’s a martyr.”
The incident has generated significant outrage both within and outside Jefferson County, with many calling for Ripper to be fired. The original post has garnered over 11 million views and thousands of responses, predominantly opposing Ripper’s comments.
In response, the Jefferson County School District emphasized its commitment to non-violence and is currently reviewing the situation. Ripper’s remarks have intensified the debate on appropriate conduct for educators and the impact of their public statements on community trust and safety.
The district did not say whether or not Ripper will be in the classroom with students in the upcoming school year.
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The district has blocked users from commenting on their Facebook page.