Chris Kluwe is a well-liked, well-qualified football coach at Edison High School (EHS) in Huntington Beach, CA. Many people know him as a former Vikings NBA football player and longtime civil rights activist. The Huntington Beach Union High School District (HBUHSD) unfairly sought to make an example of Kluwe when they unlawfully fired him on February 27, 2025, for comments he made at a city council meeting, criticizing the installation of a “MAGA” plaque at the Huntington County Library.  

On February 28, 2025, a U.S. Congressman sent a letter of inquiry to the school district about the basis for Kluwe’s discharge. HBUHSD responded by issuing a defamatory press release about Kluwe to all EHS students, parents, and staff as well as media outlets. 

In response to HBUHSD’s unlawful policing of his First Amendment Rights, on July 27, 2025, Kluwe filed a complaint, as plaintiff of the Law Practice of Anne Brafford and the ACLU Foundation of Southern California.

Case Developments

FILING
July 28, 2025
Plaintiff files complaint against the Huntingon Beach Unified High School District. 

Attorney(s)

Peter Eliasberg, chief counsel

Date filed

July 28, 2025

Court

Central District of California