Northampton County Council member Kelly Keegan attended Thursday night’s regular meeting, the first since she came under fire for comments she allegedly made about slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, by phone.
Keegan has not commented since images shared widely across social media over the weekend showed a Facebook post attributed to her that called Kirk a “monster.” The post went on to say “his wife and kids are better off without him as is the rest of the world.” The Morning Call was unable to independently verify the comments.
About two dozen protesters gathered before the Council meeting outside Northampton County Courthouse in a demonstration organized by the Northampton County Republican Committee to demand Keegan’s resignation. A handful carried plate-sized paper signs, reading “I am Charlie Kirk.”
A Democrat, Keegan was elected in 2023.
Roger Gilbert of Bethlehem, who distributed the signs, said he assembled them at home.
“We’re here tonight because what she said was wrong,” said Gilbert, referring to Keegan’s alleged comments. The sign’s message, he said, represented his desire to “carry on” Kirk’s legacy.
“It will be talking to people, having them realize that there’s no reason for violence, but that calling names is not the right thing to do, either,” Gilbert said. “And if they choose to move to the Republican Party, all the better.”
Easton resident Kathleen Harrison live-streamed the rally on TikTok: “Forget about politics,” she said. “This is a human rights issue. This is about who we are.”
An X post made by Harrison about Keegan’s alleged comments — directing viewers to call Keegan’s place of employment — received more than 12,000 likes and hundreds of supportive comments.
Kathleen Soper and Matthew Breitenbach of Easton stood nearby as a counter-protest.
“Kelly didn’t call for violence, she didn’t make threats, she just said something that a lot of people disagreed with,” Soper said. “During the last week, I’ve been online and people said a lot of things that I disagreed with too, and I’m not out here trying to get them fired.”
In prepared remarks, Council President Lori Vargo Heffner, also a Democrat, said council’s authority to call for the removal of a member is limited.
“According to the Charter, these conditions are not met by private actions on social media,” she said.
“While the county has a clear social media policy for employees, it does not apply to Council, as we are elected officials and not supervised by the Administration. … We are expected to follow our code of civility, to have these discussions with respect for everyone’s opinion. While some of us are subdued in our approach and others more vociferous, we all have a right to have our opinions heard in this room. What any of us think, feel, or believe outside of this room in the privacy of our own lives is not governed by this code.”
Heffner appealed for Keegan’s critics to be respectful.
“I was elected to serve in this role and recognize that this means to represent all of you, respective of party, privilege, beliefs. I take the privilege of the public’s right to address us just as seriously and ask for your respect and tolerance of us while doing so,” she said.
As public comment began, Keegan received some support. The first speaker urged council to keep Keegan, not bow to those who wish to silence her.
Others urged her to resign: “I know you can’t remove Kelly Keegan, but I ask that you ask her to resign,” Christina Martinez of Easton said.
Brandon Matlack of Bethlehem, who said he is a local political activist, was among speakers who urged the county to take action.
Failing to act, “erodes public trust and makes people like myself feel unsafe in the community for campaigning what I believe in,” said Matlack, wearing a baseball hat with “I am Charlie Kirk” on its bill.
Al Smith of Nazareth called the social media post “quite stupid.”
“I’m a libertarian. I’m not going to condemn her,” said Smith, adding she shouldn’t lose her job at Easton Area School District. But he said the hatred in the post should not be condoned, either.
Easton Area — where Keegan works at a nurse — is reviewing the matter, according an online statement posted by school Superintendent Tracy Piazza after the comments came to light. The district did not name Keegan in its statement.
Piazza said the statements were “insensitive, without merit, and in conflict with all that we stand for as a district.” The district did respond to requests for comment.
Comments critical of Kirk following his assassination Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University have sparked a backlash from his supporters, including Vice President JD Vance and Attorney General Pam Bondi. A number of national critics have faced repercussions, including Jimmy Kimmel, whom ABC suspended indefinitely from his late-night TV show.
Locally, state Rep. Josh Siegel, who is also the Democratic candidate for Lehigh County executive, is under fire for comments he made. In a Facebook post, Siegel called political violence “a cancer” and stated “Charlie Kirk didn’t deserve to die” before detailing what he said was Kirk’s part in creating a “toxic political culture.”
Freelancer reporter Elisabeth Seidel contributed to this report.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
