A Fort Worth woman who laughed during public comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination at a City Council meeting has been identified as Teena James, the founder of a nonprofit working with children.
During the Sept. 23 council meeting — which drew protests over Democrat members’ response to Kirk’s assassination, as previously reported by The Dallas Express — James laughed each time Kirk’s name was mentioned. Mayor Mattie Parker called her out and asked her to stop disrupting the meeting.
“I laugh because I can,” James told Paige Wallace, a speaker during the meeting.
Wallace criticized Councilmembers Elizabeth Beck and Chris Nettles for mocking Kirk’s assassination, remarks James punctuated with laughter.
“They openly mock that tragic assassination of someone that they don’t agree with,” Wallace said.
“Does that sound like an elected official you would be comfortable having power to make laws?” Wallace asked.
Just days earlier, the Fort Worth City Council formally recognized James for her role as founder of the nonprofit Safe in the Six.
“The City of Fort Worth expresses its extreme gratitude and appreciation for the decades of community activism and contributions of Ms. Teena James,” Democrat City Councilmember Deborah Peoples said at the September 16 meeting.
Safe in the Six partners with the Fort Worth Police Department, churches, and schools to support children’s development, according to its website.
“Our mission is to work with our community, the FWPD, churches, and schools to ensure that our children grow up not only to be successful financially, but mentally, socially, emotionally, and physically, as well. Through our initiatives, we’re determined to bring the ‘village’ back to the Stop Six community,” the website states.
On social media, James has echoed Democrat talking points and shared posts critical of conservatives, including one highlighting MSNBC host Joy Reid’s attack on Kirk.
“Can’t believe we are in the timeline where those who celebrate murder get accolades!” one user wrote in response to James.
Wallace later told The Dallas Express that James’ behavior fit a pattern.
“It honestly didn’t surprise me when I first heard Teena laughing … we need to start calling these people out more instead of being the silent majority,” Wallace said. “Unfortunately, this is another clear example of how people in our country are brainwashed and truly want us dead based on our political opinions and even skin color.”
“A lot of the people cheering on Charlie’s death are too lazy to actually watch his videos and hear everything he says,” Wallace added. “They run with purposely out-of-context quotes to make him seem like some villain that he never was.”
The Dallas Express reached out to James for comment but did not receive a response.