- FedEx said it fired an employee after a video showed him participating in a reenactment of
George Floyd 'sdeath to mock Black Lives Matters protesters in Franklinville, New Jersey, on Monday. - The New Jersey Department of Corrections said it also suspended an officer who was involved.
- The two were part of a small group of counterprotesters at a
Black Lives Matter protest waving American flags and displaying "All Lives Matter" and Trump signs.
A FedEx employee was fired and a corrections officer was suspended after they reenacted George Floyd's death to taunt Black Lives Matter protesters in Franklinville, New Jersey, on Monday.
Multiple videos showed a small group of counterprotesters outside a firewood business along the road where the protest took place.
Some counterprotesters waved American flags and set up signs reading "All Lives Matter" and signs in support of President
As the demonstrators made their way down the street, surrounded by the police, two counterprotesters acted out Floyd's death, with one man kneeling on the neck of the other.
—Lexi Fagotti (@lexifagotti) June 8, 2020
In a video taken from the counterprotesters' perspective, the man on top can be heard repeatedly shouting that if "you don't comply, that's what happens."
The counterprotester holding the camera can be heard yelling "Black lives matter to no one" and "He f---ing passed bad checks." Floyd was arrested and killed in Minneapolis on May 25 when police officers responded to a 911 call about someone using a counterfeit bill.
Counterprotesters face repercussions
In a statement to Newsweek on Tuesday, FedEx called the video "appalling and offensive" and said it had fired an employee who was involved. FedEx did not identify the worker.
—Daryan (@dfennal16) June 9, 2020
"FedEx holds its team members to a high standard of personal conduct, and we do not tolerate the kind of appalling and offensive behavior depicted in this video," the statement read.
"The individual involved is no longer employed by FedEx. A diverse and inclusive workforce is at the heart of our business, and we stand with those who support justice and equality."
The New Jersey Department of Corrections also said it suspended an officer who was involved. The department did not name the officer but said they worked at the Bayside State Prison.
"We have been made aware that one of our officers from Bayside State Prison participated in the filming of a hateful and disappointing video that mocked the killing of George Floyd," the department said, according to NBC10 Philadelphia.
Franklinville Mayor John Bruno and Police Chief Brian Zimmer said in a joint statement that they were "appalled and saddened by the revolting actions of certain individuals," NBC10 reported.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy also decried the reenactment as "repugnant," according to The New York Times.
- Read more:
- George Floyd and Derek Chauvin 'bumped heads' at the nightclub where they both worked because of Chauvin's aggression with clients, former coworker says
- George Floyd was one of many Black Americans killed at the hands of police. Now protests across America are demanding justice for them all.
- David McAtee was killed by a National Guard member in Louisville during a shootout with authorities, investigators say
- Social-media sites are cracking down on users doing a 'George Floyd Challenge' where they put a knee on a friend's neck