A Fresno State University lecturer is under fire for social media posts showing President Trump in a coffin, wishing for the death of Trump and Elon Musk, and for offering her students extra credit to attend a protest against Telsa.
Screenshots show that anthropology instructor Katherine Shurik posted an image on Facebook in January of Trump inside a casket surrounded by his wife, Barack and Michelle Obama, and other former presidents and their wives, all smiling; the caption read: ” I have a dream for this to happen much sooner rather than later. #FelonTrump #TraitorTrump #RapistTrump #DieTrump #TrumpDead.”
She also commented on a picture of what appears to be an AI-generated image of Trump’s gravestone with the words: “And take Musk and the rest of the Nazi (Republican) party members with you too!”
Then over the weekend a video of Shurik circulated on X taken during a protest at the Fresno Tesla dealership.
“Shurik identified herself as an anthropologist and a professor in the video, saying that she is trying to start a chapter of the National Organization for Women in Fresno. Shurik said in the video that she teaches an activist anthropology course and offers extra credit for her students if they attend a protest,” the San Joaquin Valley Sun reported, adding her social media posts appear to have now been deleted.
Professor from @FresnoSt California State University Fresno, Katherine Shurik is giving her students extra credit for attending the take down Tesla protest.
Your tax dollars are going to leftist professors giving their students extra credit for protesting Tesla.
Can we do… pic.twitter.com/mTHDKjaXSb
— Oreo Express (@OreoExpress) March 30, 2025
Fresno State professor posting about her longing for the deaths of Pres Trump, Musk and Republicans. These are the unhinged radicals teaching young kids at schools and universities across the country. They are hate-filled, radical lunatics and have no business teaching anywhere. pic.twitter.com/syVX8jT4Wk
— Garry Bredefeld (@GarryBredefeld) March 31, 2025
The university told the Sun they are looking into the matter:
“While Fresno State firmly believes in the principles of free speech, we strongly condemn the abhorrent social media posts and comments made by one of our part-time instructors. As these views were published by the employee as a private citizen, they do not represent our University in any way. Fresno State firmly denounces wishes of death against any elected official, particularly the President of the United States – these go against our core educational values and are not consistent with our Principles of Community. As Americans and educators, we pride ourselves on democratic dialogue, not words of derision and contempt about the most important political figure of our country.”
The controversy has caught the eye of Musk, who responded to a post on X about the professor, saying: “Calling for the death of the President is a serious crime.”
A petition has been launched calling for Shurik to be fired, stating in part: “It is important that these young people receive their education in an environment that fosters respectful, healthy discourse, not from someone who engages in disturbing, violent rhetoric.”
Fresno County Supervisor Garry Bredefeld condemned the professor on X, posting: “Fresno State professor posting about her longing for the deaths of Pres Trump, Musk and Republicans. These are the unhinged radicals teaching young kids at schools and universities across the country. They are hate-filled, radical lunatics and have no business teaching anywhere.”
MORE: Fresno State donations in jeopardy after prof’s hate-filled Barbara Bush rants
IMAGE CAPTION AND CREDIT: Two screenshots of controversial Facebook posts from scholar Katherine Shurik; X screenshot
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