Callie Wulk. Image courtesy: Wausau River District
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Leaders at the Wausau River District, the city’s downtown business association, have terminated the employment of Executive Director Callie Wulk for comments made on her personal social media following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Wulk, who had been in the position for less than 18 months, shared a story about the shooting captioned with the phrase “well done” along with three handclap emojis. A screenshot of the post immediately went viral, with community leaders calling for her resignation.
The River District Board of Directors posted a statement just before 11 AM, noting that Wulk’s post “does not reflect the values of our organization or the broader Wausau community,” and added that she is no longer employed.
Wausau Mayor Doug Diny, who is a member of the River District Board, said he fully supports the statement regarding Wulk’s post:
The board acted swiftly and appropriately, and I share their commitment to ensuring our downtown remains welcoming, respectful, and inclusive for everyone. I encourage our community to read the full River District statement for details on the board’s actions and reaffirmation of our shared values.”
Wulk addressed her post in a statement released to WAOW TV, apologizing for her actions, noting that her commentary was inappropriate and “does not reflect who [she] strives to be as a person or as a leader.” Her full statement is below:
“I deeply regret a personal social media post I made regarding the recent death of a public figure. My words were inappropriate, and I understand that they caused pain and outrage.I want to be clear: I do not condone violence in any form, regardless of political belief or identity. The sentiment I expressed was harmful and does not reflect who I strive to be as a person or as a leader.
I take full accountability for the harm my post has caused to our community. I sincerely apologize to those I have hurt, and to the many people who put their trust in me to represent Downtown Wausau with integrity.
My personal views do not reflect the values of the Wausau River District. The post I shared, and the sentiment behind it, are not representative of the downtown businesses, community partners, or stakeholders we serve.
Later in the day, Wulk also lost her seat on RISE UP Central Wisconsin’s Board of Directors. President Tara Draeger released a statement saying Wulk’s comments “do not represent the values or beliefs of Rise Up Central Wisconsin… We believe strongly that violence is never a solution. This is a moment for our community to come together in compassion and unity, rather than to be further divided. Rise Up remains fully committed to serving all members of our community as we continue our mission to heal, strengthen, and unify.”
Kirk was shot and killed while addressing an audience at Utah Valley University on Wednesday in what many have called a politically-motivated assassination. The act was universally condemned by political figures on both sides of the aisle, including all living former U.S. presidents, current President Donald Trump, and prominent figures such as House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Speaker Emirta Nancy Pelosi.
The FBI has released images of a suspect in the shooting and is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the individual.
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