06-16-2020
During a recent Black Lives Matter march in Franklinville, New Jersey, a now viral video depicts two white males appearing to make light of the death of George Floyd. The incident was videotaped by several people from both sides of the protest and posted on social media. The video shows a man lying prone on the ground, and then another man kneeling on his neck. As the Black Lives Matter marchers approach, the kneeling man starts shouting at the marchers, "You don't comply, that's what happens! Look ... he didn't comply! He didn't comply! If he would have complied, that wouldn't have happened!" The kneeling man continues to shout, "Blacks lives matter to no one! All lives matter! All lives matter! Police lives matter! God bless the police! God bless the police! You dumbass protesters!"
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy condemned the behavior, saying that mocking Floyd's murder "belittle[s] the calls for justice from our black and brown communities” and is “repugnant." After the videos surfaced and outrage grew online, the New Jersey Department of Corrections said it had suspended an officer who was, "participating in the filming of a hateful and disappointing video that mocked the killing of George Floyd." The department also stated that it has begun a "thorough and expedited" investigation into the officer in question.
Meanwhile, FedEx said it has fired one employee it allegedly saw in the video. In a statement, FedEx affirmed, "FedEx holds its team members to high standards of personal conduct, and we do not tolerate the kind of appalling and offensive behavior depicted in this video. The individual involved is no longer employed by FedEx. We stand with those who support justice and equality.”