Celebrate Karen Attiah's Win — A Victory for Press Freedom

Today is a good day for press freedom. An independent arbitrator ordered The Washington Post to immediately reinstate columnist Karen Attiah — ruling that the paper "did not have good and sufficient cause" to fire her and found The Post "failed to establish the grievant engaged in gross misconduct."

Attiah was fired last September after posting commentary on Bluesky following the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk — commentary she has consistently described as part of her work as an opinion writer reflecting on political violence in America. She fought back. She won.

Attiah put it simply: "This decision confirms what we've said from the start: I was doing my job as an opinion writer, and this was wrongful termination."

We celebrate Karen Attiah's victory — and we call on The Washington Post to welcome her back with the institutional support she deserves. Press freedom is not just about fighting governments.

It is also about news organizations having the courage to stand behind journalists who speak truth, even when it is uncomfortable.

Today, the arbitration process did what the Post's leadership would not. The public is watching to see what the Post does next.