NPO Employee fired. Community uprising in response. Does the board make a public statement?

Question

I realize we can't comment on the reason(s) for termination. Should we respond to the dozen-ish letters to the editor with a statement that addresses the rumors that are flying? There is a lot of misinformation floating that is inflammatory and likely to lessen the donations our NPO survives upon. The Board is willing to bite the bullet to protect the terminated employee's reputation and to abide the law, and understands that means people will think badly of us instead. Does giving a public statement of some kind calm or inflame the situation?